“IT’S WONDERFUL that there’s a chance for his music to be used.”

A musical in tribute to a local musician who died during the pandemic is to take place in August.

David Dawson, who was part of many music groups, including the Ilkley-based, new Horizon’s Orchestra, died in 2020, aged 80.

However, the music that he was working on in the time leading up to his death is to be used in a live performance of “Oliver’s Journey Home” at The Clarke Foley Centre in Ilkley this summer.

David’s wife, Christine Dawson said: “David was working on this music and was planning for it to be sung by The Unitary Music Society with a gathered orchestra in the summer of 2020.

“He always conducted and wrote music for the groups that he played with, and he played music right up until his retirement.”

She said that Oliver’s Journey Home, which will be performed at The Clarke Foley Centre in Ilkley is a ‘jazzy’ sort of musical, and David "would be so pleased to know his work was being put to use.”

“He started playing the piano when he was a child, and he was conducting choirs by the time he was in his teens. He was a graduate at Manchester’s School of Music, and then he was in teaching and teacher training.

“This performance is for people that knew him, to come and see something he’s written and to enjoy it,” she added.

Ilkley Grammar school student, Hugh Ameigh, has been booked to take the main part along with members of the Unitarian Music Society and New Horizon Orchestra to play the music.

Ms Dawson added: “Every year David would produce some music or arrange music in a way that people could perform because he was very much for working with a lot of musicians.

"He’s taught in schools and he liked to make it possible for the people that wanted to be involved, to be able to be involved, so he liked working with amateurs musicians especially.

“He played in string quartets, conducted the Bradford opera group, and worked with amateur musicians.

The musical will be taking place on Sunday 14 August at 5 pm at The Clarke Foley Community Centre, Cunliffe Road, Ilkley LS29 9DZ.

Tickets £10 including buffet supper after the show.

For tickets, Apply to the Box Office at 01943 607016 or contact Nick Morrice on 01904 765424.