ILKLEY Choral Society, along with their sister choir the Otley Choral Society have announced that 20-year-old Yonni Levy will be taking up his new position as Musical Director of both societies from the beginning of September, 2017.

The societies are pleased to have succeeded in appointing such a young, but experienced, conductor and hope that with youth at the helm will help to attract young singers into the choirs. Ilkley Choral start rehearsing for the new season on Monday, September 4 at 7.30pm in Christchurch on The Grove. Otley start the following night at Newall Church Hall on Newall Carr Road, Otley (above main entrance to Price Henry’s Grammar School) again at 7.30pm.

Yonni has recently completed his vocal training studies at the Leeds Conservatoire under Neil Ferris and has worked with several leading names in choral conducting in the UK. Along with choral conducting, he also directs an array of orchestral music and opera.

Yonni was recently the Assistant Chorus Master to David Hill for Elgar’s “Music Makers”, working with the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as well as his own singers from the Leeds Conservatoire Student Chorus. He returns working with David Hill again in a performance of Howell’s “Hymnus Paradisi” later in the coming season.

He was appointed as conductor of Skipton Choral Society at the age of 19 for an interim period before taking up his posts in Wharfedale. He has also worked with various choral societies throughout West Yorkshire and the North West. This August he is working under maestro Alfonso Scorano and will conduct the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also recently worked with Nick Lloyd Webber and Kay Mellor in an advisory position, composing the new West End Musical “Fat Friends”.

He performed the baritone role of Mr Peachem for Britten’s “Beggar’s Opera” and won the Margaret Markland award with the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir last year .

He is looking forward to working with both Ilkley and Otley choral societies, who combine to perform several concerts each year. On November 18 he makes his Otley debut, conducting a performance of Mendellsohn’s “Elijah” , and his Ilkley debut on December 9, conducting Handel’s “Messiah” , as part of the Ilkley and District Arts Festival.

A spokesman said: "We welcome new voices to our rehearsals, particularly tenors, and we would be delighted to see young voices joining our societies. Details of both societies are on their websites. We wish Yonni Levy every success in his first season with us."