A BIG weekend of music-making lies ahead for the Holme Valley.

First comes a concert tomorrow at Holmfirth Civic Hall featuring Holmfirth Choral Society plus a clutch of well-known soloists.

The choir will sing Mendelssohn's St Paul with soloists Jenny Stafford, Emily Reaves, Andrew McAllister and Thom Meredith.

The society will be accompanied by the Valley Sinfonia augmented for this concert to twice its usual size by the addition of a full woodwind section. Its leader is Mary Barber. and the conductor will be Geoffrey Lockwood.

Soloist Jenny Stafford has made a name for herself recently in her home area of Huddersfield, winning the Kirklees Young Musician of the Year 2010.

Emily Reaves is also from Huddersfield and is conductor of Honley Ladies' Choir.

Andrew McAllister is a final year student at Huddersfield University while Thom Meredith, Principal of Kirklees Music School and conductor of Colne Valley Male Voice Choir, needs little introduction.

Tickets are £8 from Holmfirth Tourist Information Centre, telephone 01484 537505, or you can pay on the door.

On Sunday, Mr Lockwood will be back in action, conducting a performance at Holmfirth Methodist Church of Handel’s Messiah.

This is the annual performance of a substantial part of "Messiah" organised by the Methodist Church and featuring Malcolm Hinchliffe on the organ.

Singers who know Handel’s great oratorio and would like to join the choir are welcome to do so. Please be at the church for 6.15pm for the concert which begins at 6.30pm.

Audience members are likewise welcome. Admission is free though there will be a collection.

On the following Sunday, that’s December 18, Christ Church, New Mill will hold its annual service of readings and carols, presented by the church choir.

In addition to congregational traditional carols, the choir will sing a range of Advent and Christmas music, including this year for the first time, The Shepherd’s Carol by Bob Chilcott, and the world premiere of Jim Morgan's, A Babe Is Born.

Admission is free but a collection will be taken. The concert begins at 4pm.