STEETON Male Voice Choir has begun rehearsals with its new musical director Catherine Sweet.

The award-winning choir will take to the stage with her when they join Pontnewydd Male Voice Choir at Keighley Shared Church on September 17.

The choir began 2017 without Alan Clark, who retired as musical director after 22 years, and deputy conductor Noel Aspinall took up the baton while a replacement was sought.

Spokesman David Barraclough said: “The strength of the choir and Noel’s experience combined with our extremely-talented accompanists Pat Jones and Peter Abberton steered us carefully through a very busy concert period.”

During that time the choir performed in Ilkley, at a York wedding and at Bolton Abbey Priory.

The choir also spent five days in Northern Ireland, singing at Belfast Cathedral, the Giant’s Causeway and the Courtyard Theatre in Ballyearl with host choir Clare Chorale.

Mr Barraclough said: “Our Irish repertoire was quite varied and even saw the introduction of an Irish song called Carrickfergus.”

Steeton Male Voice Choir will perform at Bradford Grammar School with Bradford choir Chordiality and the Lydian String Quartet on Saturday, July 8 at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £15 which includes refreshments and wine. Proceeds will go to the for the Margaret Carey Foundation. Tickets are available from malevoicechoirs.net.