AS THE spring equinox heralds warmer days and lighter nights in March, Phoenix Concert Band returns to St Margaret’s Church in Ilkley with tunes to take the audience away from it all.

The band’s concert Music To Escape To promises to evoke dreams of sunnier climes. The programme includes film favourites, a popular proms classic and exciting contemporary music for wind orchestra.

Under the baton of musical director Keiron Anderson, the 60-strong wind orchestra will transport listeners to the prairies of Oklahoma and tropical islands in the South Pacific, with arrangements of Richard Rodgers’ film scores. On the way they will visit the Pirates of the Caribbean, through the music of Hans Zimmer, and the Pride Lands of Africa, thanks to Elton John’s well-known score for The Lion King.

The band will also perform Fantasia on British Sea Songs by Henry Wood, made famous by its performance each September at the last night of the proms.

The programme also includes three contemporary pieces evocative of summer land and sea-scapes, by composers David Bedford, Adam Gorb and Brian Balmages.

During the interval tea, coffee and homemade cakes will be on sale, with all proceeds in aid of the charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK.

Hilary Pattison, band chairwoman, said: “We’re looking forward to returning to St Margaret’s Church for this evening of musical escapism. We’ve always received the warmest of welcomes, and our generous audiences have helped us raise hundreds of pounds for good causes.”

The concert will take place on Saturday, March 21 at 7.30pm, at St Margaret’s Church, Queen’s Road, Ilkley, LS29 9QL.

Tickets are available online at www.musicalescape.eventbrite.co.uk and on the door, priced £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and free for under 16s.

Phoenix Concert Band is a large wind orchestra with players from Leeds and the surrounding area, led by Musical Director, Keiron Anderson. The band plays a rich variety of music from film and musical theatre to swing and popular classics. It performs throughout the year for local concert seasons, fundraising events and private engagements.