TICKETS are now on sale for Otley Choral Society's 80th anniversary performance of Handel’s Messiah at Otley Parish Church on Saturday, December 16th.

During World War II the Horton Fawkes family had the idea of creating a choir and they began rehearsing for their first performance- it was to be Handel’s Messiah!

Eighty years later, the choir are very excited to be once again performing Messiah with their sister choir, Ilkley Choral Society. The performance will be conducted by their guest conductor Alex Rebetge, soloists from the Royal Northern College, Manchester and accompanied by the wonderful Yorkshire Chamber Orchestra.

The choir has already celebrated their birthday with a fantastic party at Otley Golf club and there will also be a display of photographs, concert programmes and press cuttings that chart the history of the choir from its archives available in the church for the performance.

Tickets are selling quickly for what is usually a very special Otley evening. They are available from Browns Gallery in Otley, The Grove bookshop in Ilkley, from choir members or by emailing priscillawellscole@gmail.com