‘Songs for the Season’ headlines Kirklees Year of Music 2023 festive events – book now
As well as various orchestral performances by Opera North and an evening organ concert at Huddersfield Town Hall, on 12 December there will be a Songs for the Season Gala – a performance featuring original winter songs created by shortlisted local artists selected through a Kirklees Year of Music competition which opened in June 2023.
The competition, created in collaboration with Dewsbury Taking the Lead, saw songwriters and composers invited to create a new seasonal classic. The ‘Songs for the Season’ winners and their song titles include:
– Andy Burton – ‘Stars of Peace in Wintertime’.
– Alexandra Carlos and Simon Walker – ‘All I Know’.
– Dorian Kelly – ‘In Kirklees We’ll Remain’.
– Lucy Cowling and Mason Whittle– ‘Christmas Time at the Office’.
– Morel O’Sullivan – ‘It Takes a Town’.
– Nicholas Greensmith – ‘Winter Robin’.
– Sam Hodgson – ‘Mother’s Bones’.
– Service users and staff at Enfield Down, and Creative Minds at South-West Yorkshire NHS Trust – ‘In Wintertime in Kirklees’.
The finalists’ pieces are currently being arranged in collaboration with artists including singer Carol Hodge, Musical Director, composer and performer, Jen Pugh, The Voice UK singer Rachel Modest and former Director of Musica Kirklees, Thom Meredith.
The original songs will be debuted at the magical ‘Songs for the Season’ winter concert at Dewsbury Town Hall, where their tunes will be performed by the songwriters themselves alongside Winner of the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Maddie Morris, vocalist Lisanse Changwe, folk-rock artist Lizzey Ross, producer / songwriter Abi Swift, a Kirklees-based String Quartet and Brass Quartet, as well as a performance by a community choir arranged by Jess Barker.
The choir is open to all, workshops will be taking place from 2 – 4pm on Sunday 26 November at Dewsbury Town Hall and 7 – 9pm on Wednesday 6 December at Dewsbury Fire Station. If members of the public would like to attend and join the choir, they should book their place by emailing Charlie Wells on [email protected] or calling: 07581 196179.
The songwriters will also see their compositions compiled into a Kirklees Winter Songbook which will be distributed to schools across Kirklees and passed on to the local younger generation to inspire future musicians.
The ‘Songs for the Season’ Gala performance is 12 December at Dewsbury Town Hall, tickets cost £7 and can be purchased via www.musicinkirklees.co.uk
Other seasonal highlights as part of KYOM23 include:
6 December & 11 December
Dewsbury Town Hall & Huddersfield Town Hall
The annual festive visit from University of Huddersfield students is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with its combination of Christmas favourites, solo features and audience carols. Conductor Jonathan Beatty has maintained the reputation of the band as one of the finest university brass bands in the UK as they have continued to rank highly in competitions over recent years.
10 December
Dewsbury Town Hall
The Opera North Youth Orchestra is joined by Bradford-born 2022 BBC Young Musician of the Year finalist and Principal Flugelhorn of the National Youth Brass Band Phoebe Mallinson to perform Alexander Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto. Brahms’ Second Symphony and Grace Williams’ Fantasy on Welsh Nursery Tunes complete the programme.
12 December
Huddersfield Town Hall
Expect classic fairy tales with mischievous twists from these two animated films based on Roald Dahl’s hilarious collection of verse tales, soundtracked live by the Orchestra of Opera North. Fun for all the family, this is the perfect opportunity to introduce young children to live orchestral music. Recommended for ages 5+.
14 December
Dewsbury Town Hall
Mark your calendars for the return of our ever-popular Christmas Gala. Conducted by Opera North Music Director Garry Walker, the Orchestra, Chorus and Young Voices of Opera North will perform a selection of Christmas carols and festive favourites including a jazzy interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. Audience participation is encouraged!
15 December
Dewsbury Town Hall
David Pipe performs Messiaen’s evocative nine-movement cycle for Christmas at this evening concert. Composed in 1935 when Messiaen was in his mid-twenties, this iconic work includes musical depictions of the shepherds, angels and wise men, before concluding with the dramatic ‘Dieu parmi nous’ toccata.
21 December
Huddersfield Town Hall
The Huddersfield Youth Choirs present a selection of Christmas music from round the world, with David Pipe at the organ in this lunchtime concert. The organ solos include works by Leroy Anderson, Richard Elliott and John Rutter. With the hall decorated colourfully, carols for all to sing, and the beautiful voices of the choirs joined by the mighty organ, this will surely get you into the festive spirit!
29 December
Huddersfield Town Hall
Resident Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the London Mozart Players Jonathan Bloxham takes the Orchestra for a spin in an exuberant finale for Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Soprano Alexandra Lowe (Fiordiligi in Opera North’s New Year Così fan tutte) joins the ensemble in arias and song.