STEETON Male Voice Choir are looking to both the past and future as they recruit new members.

They are invoking their proud history over more than a century in a bid to inspire interest from local men keen to get into group singing.

But they are also showcasing their own progress, after appointing their first female musical director last year and revitalising their repertoire for modern audiences.

Publicity officer David Barraclough said: “When a band of men formed a choir in Steeton on February 3 1908, little would they have thought that the legacy they created would still be a part of the small community of Steeton 110 years later.

“Hume Wrathall was the man to have the privilege of being the first baton holder, which has only been passed on four times after his tenure.

“The current MD is Catherine Sweet, who brought not only a wealth of experience but also a new burst of energy and quality.

“If Hume Wrathall and his choir colleagues of 1908 were still around they would be pleased that their tradition was in good, capable hands with a fine blend of voices.”

Mr Barraclough said it could be a struggle to keep Wrathall’s legacy alive. But he stressed that recruitment was always top of the choir’s agenda, with plenty of effort put into ensuring newcomers feel welcome.

He said: “New members are treated royally, and a mentor is appointed to a new chorister who leads them through the early stages of choir life. There are no daunting auditions and we even have a home learning tool known as Personal Composer, which will help you with your part singing and with learning new material.”

Mr Barraclough said the reasons for being a choir member remain the same after 110 years – to produce and promote high quality choral music.

He added: “Apart from the obvious passion that we all share for music there is also the sense of pride in pulling your choir blazer on before every concert and the sense of belonging to this prestigious choir. The camaraderie is second to none.

“There are many other benefits, mainly health ones, and it’s also hip and trendy to be part of a choir.”

The choir has a concert at Holy Trinity Church, in Cowling, on May 12 at 7.30pm. And it will perform its annual concert at King’s Hall, Ilkley, on October 20, with the City of Bradford Brass Band.

This year’s mini-tour by the choir will be to Whitby in July.

Steeton Male Voice Choir rehearses on Mondays from 7.30pm at Steeton Methodist Church Hall. Visit malevoicechoirs.net for details of upcoming concerts and information on how to join the choir.