​​​​​​​The Skipton Choir is getting ready for two summer performances.

On July 2 at Christ Church, Skipton, the choir will join Skipton Community Orchestra and Skipton Music Centre to present The Sounds of the Movies. The event, which starts at 7pm, is by voluntary donation to Dementia Forward.

Said David Weale, the choir’s musical director: “The evening is being organised by the Skipton orchestra as part of its 10^th anniversary celebrations with a view to promoting amateur music-making in the area. It promises to be a real community event – the orchestra has put a lot of hard work into organising this and we’re delighted to have been invited to be part of it. We’re looking forward to performing a short set with a number of new songs that we’ve been working hard on at our spring rehearsals.”

A week later and following the success of its ‘Concert for Luke’ in April, members of the 60-strong choir have been invited to sing at a black-tie fundraiser at the Cavendish Pavilion at Bolton Abbey on July 9. It is in aid of the ‘This is Luke’ appeal for nine-year-old meningitis victim Luke Mortimer, for which the choir raised £1,000 at the April concert at Christ Church.

Said choir chairman Carol Squire: “Adam, Luke’s father, invited the choir to sing for guests at the fund-raising event he is organising to help Luke, who lost both hands and legs after contracting meningococcal meningitis in December 2019. After meeting Luke and his family at the April concert, the choir was delighted to be asked and only too happy to help.”