Concerts

A concert will be given on Tuesday evening in Ashville's Soothill Hall. This will feature the male and female voice choirs performing pieces chosen by Thom and Lynn, and will also feature the pianist Richard Uttley, a third year music scholar at Cambridge University, and Dr Paul Whittaker of Music and the Deaf.

The Harrogate Festival Chorus and orchestra, conducted by John, will perform John Rutter's Magnificat and Elgar's The Music Makers in Wednesday's concert in the historic Royal Hall in Harrogate. Tickets are now available for the concert - simply click on the order form on our home page.

From its earliest days, the Royal Hall served a variety of purposes for the people of Harrogate. The kursaal design means that the building has had many uses including theatre, cinema, dance hall, opera, broadcast studio, ballet, lecture theatre and concert hall. This versatility is a testament to its designer, Frank Matcham.

The Royal Hall opened in 1903 and seats 1100 people and its excellent acoustic and proscenium stage make it the natural venue for dance, music and drama events. It is the premier location for the prestigious Harrogate International Festival and the Harrogate International Youth Music Festival.

It is a building of national architectural importance. From 2006 a £10 million programme of restoration has been undertaken and the Royal Hall will open again in April 2008 when the building, which has a gold ceiling and ornate decor, will once again match the description given when it first opened of "a glittering palace of gold".

The Royal Hall is a fitting performance venue for the first performance of the Harrogate Festival Chorus. More information on this wonderful venue can be found at www.royalhall.org.

Tickets will be available from May 2008. Details of how to order tickets will be sent to all course delegates and will posted on this website.