ON SATURDAY, December 9, Ilkley and Otley Choral Societies will be performing Handel’s Messiah as part of the Ilkley Arts Festival.

The Societies appointed Yonni Levy as their new Music Director with effect from the start of the new season in September. He made a very impressive Otley debut on November 18, conducting an electrifying performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

Yonni , at 20-years old, is one of the country’s youngest conductors, working with several high profile ensembles, as well as the long established Otley Choral Society and Ilkley Choral Society. This summer Yonni was a lead conductor in a major Czech Republic music festival, and also worked in Thailand with the Thailand Philharmonic Chorus , a destination he will return to annually.

Yonni will conduct Messiah on December 9, in St Margaret’s Church, Queen’s Road, Ilkley commencing at 7pm. He will be joined by four talented soloists from the Royal Northern College of Music, Ilkley’s accompanist Robert Sudall on organ and a former MD of the chorus Mr Alan Horsey playing the harpsichord continuo. The orchestra will be the Yorkshire Chamber Ensemble.

The choirs hope that this auspicious performance will be in front of a full house. It will be a treat for the audience to see this young conductor displaying his tremendous skills and enthusiasm for choral music.

Tickets, £12, are available from choir members, The Grove Bookshop (Music) on The Grove and Brown’s Art Gallery in Otley. A few tickets will be available on the door.