CHORAL power is warming up and poised for its traditional festive flourish.

Within the rich vein of vein of choral societies that flows through the region, few are more active than Ian Jones.

He not only co-founded the forward-thinking Cumbria Choral Initiative (CCI) and Levens Choir, but these days also wields the baton from another of the area’s finest - Eversley Choral Union.

And Ian said he’s enjoying working with both. He added: “The two choirs are different in many ways and I love the challenges, which each presents and the contrasting rewards from working with each choir.

“I always try to choose programmes which challenge in some way or other: not necessarily all the time but certainly occasionally.

“Both the programmes contain well known carols, some for the choirs to perform and others for the audience to join in.”

Levens Christmas concert is Festive Fantasia, on Tuesday, December 14 (7.30pm), at Kendal’s United Reformed Church.

The main choral works will be: Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Vaughan Williams, 4 motets by Adrian Self, Salve Regina by Poulenc and Totus Tuus by Gorecki.

Eversley’s programme is an unusual and interesting mix - two works for choir, organ and harp - Janacek's Otcenas (The Lord's Prayer) and Finzi's In Terra Pax and also carols arranged, among others, by John Rutter and David Willcocks.

Among the soloists for their performances at St John's Church, Silverdale, on December 16, and St Thomas's Church, Milnthorpe, on December 20 (7.30pm), will be AnnaKate Pearson starring on harp.

Elsewhere, conductor Ian Allan is also playing a duel role - conducting Arnside Choral Society on December 18 (7.30pm) at Arnside Methodist Church in a programme which includes Holst’s Christmas Day, and Kirkby Lonsdale Choral Society’s yuletide concert on December 12 (7.30pm) at St Mary’s Parish Church, featuring Vivaldi’s Gloria with soloists, soprano, Tracie Penwarden, and mezzo soprano, Wendy Sharrock, plus items from the Oxford Book of Carols.

Kendal South Choir’s acclaimed musical director Mark Swinton will be on the podium for the ensemble’s Christmas concert at the parish church on December 11, (7.30pm), titled after the principal programme item, John Rutter’s When Icicles Hang, a suite of six arrangements of suitably wintry texts by Shakespeare, Campion, and anonymous 14th and 15th century writers, with guest tenor soloist Simon Martindale.

Among the accompanist will be well-known Kendalian pianist Robert Talbot.

Ambleside and District Choral Society is planning a spectacular concert of Christmas music for choir, music and organ on December 11 (7.30pm) at Ambleside Parish Church.

Jonathan Willcocks’ Magnificat is the centrepiece of the performance. Also taking the stage in the run up to Christmas are the Lakeland Singers, with performances based on Handel's Messiah - one on December 10 (7.30pm) at Grange Methodist Church as part of the Christmas Tree Festival, followed by another show on December 18 (7.30pm) at St Mary's Church, Ambleside, which includes soloists for the Messiah part 1 and part 3 and an orchestra.

Penrith Singers will also perform Handel’s greatest and best known oratorio, Messiah, on Sunday (December 5, 7.30pm) at St Andrew’s Church, Penrith and over at Ulverston Parish Church on December 17 (7.30pm), Heather Paynes grand choristers are tuning up for Vivaldi’s Magnificat; Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols and more. Special guests will be Dowdales Chamber Choir from Dowdales School, Dalton.

Staveley Choral Society’s Christmas concert is on Monday 13th December 13 (7.30pm) at Staveley Village Hall, featuring children from Staveley Primary School, and Christmas music from Japan, America, South Africa, Latin America as well as more traditional music closer to home as well as readings and audience participation in popular carols, and the Pro Nobis Christmas concert, on December 12 (8pm), at St Mark's Church Natland will be A Boy was born, and includes Deborah Catterall and her Wigan-based Laudamus Youth Choir and Laudamus Chamber Choir to join them.

On December 11 (7.30pm), at Cartmel Priory, Cartmel Choral Society, under the dynamic leadership of Adrian Self, will perform Vaughn Williams Dona Nobis Pacem, plus two stirring Cornish carols and the lyrical In a manger written by Lady Graham.

Last, but not least, the magnificent ‘boys’ of K Shoes Male Voice Choir play Kendal Town Hall on December 10, with Occasional Brass from Burneside, followed by the Lakeland Sinfonia Christmas Charity Concert on December 18 at (7.30pm) at Kendal’s Westmorland Hall.