STEETON Male Voice Choir will this weekend make its debut with new musical director Cathy Sweet.

The award-winning singers will perform at Keighley Shared Church on Saturday, September 16 at 7pm in a joint concert with Pontnewydd Male Choir.

The Steeton singers sang with the Pontnewydd choir – which started in 1904 – during their tour of South Wales last year.

Long-time Addingham resident Cathy said she was excited by the prospect of directing Steeton Male Voice Choir after being MD for Ilkley Playhouse.

She said: “Musical theatre has always been my great love. I have worked with some very talented people and some very professional theatre companies.

“Long gone is the ‘village hall’ standard of shows. I have a wonderful group of musicians who play for me and I love to conduct them.”

Cathy said that at Steeton she was trying to “mix the repertoire up a bit” and modernise it where appropriate, but she admitted there was a fine line between too modern and too traditional.

She said: “I love the traditional male voice choir music but in today’s world, many choirs are updating their repertoires and we need to keep pace with this to keep things fresh for the audiences and to attract new members.

“Trying to keep everyone happy can be a challenge but to make music together is a wonderful experience!

“If there are any gentlemen out there who would like to come and sing for an evening, we are always looking for more members. Come down and see us on rehearsal nights to gauge what we are like.”

The choir rehearses on Mondays at 7.30pm at Steeton Methodist Church.

E-mail tickets@steetonmvc.co.uk or call Charles Sowden on 01943 817341 or 07704 123176 to book tickets.