A celebration of more than 50 years of music making in and around Arnside and Milnthorpe is being staged this weekend.

The first Arnside and Milnthorpe Music Festival starts tomorrow (Saturday) with two masterclasses by one of Britain's foremost tenors, Wynford Evans, in St Thomas's Church, Milnthorpe, at 10am and 2pm.

On Sunday (3pm), members of Arnside Choral Society lift up their fine voices for a performance of Mozart's Requiem and other items including Mendelsson's Hear my Prayer and Bruckner's Locus iste, in St James's Church, Arnside (3pm), where Wynford will be joined by his pupil, soprano Tracie Penwarden, and some of the region's popular soloists - contralto Janet Hoyle, and one of the leading lights of K Shoes Male Voice Choir, bass baritone Brian Lancaster.

Michael English, from Beetham Parish Church, will be at the organ and Glyn Hopkins, pianist, organist and choirmaster at St Thomas's, conducts.

The festival has been organised by members and friends of Arnside Choral Society and concludes with the Musical World of Wynford Evans on Bank Holiday Monday (May 5, 7.30pm), in St Thomas's Church.

He entertains with arias, oratorio, Gilbert and Sullivan, musicals, and well-known ballads, laced with stories and anecdotes.

Wynford has appeared with most of the major orchestras and choruses in the UK as well as touring Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan and South America and the United States, with his American debut at the illustrious New York venue, Carnegie Hall, in 1987.

He has performed at the Royal Albert Hall many times, not only at the BBC Promenade concerts but in musical events with massed male voice choirs.

One notable appearance was as soloist at Cardiff Arms Park in front of a 10,000-strong choir playing to an audience of 35,000.

With concerts, private vocal teaching, master classes, conducting, choral workshops, regular radio broadcasts, television appearances, and a couple of trips to Seoul University, in South Korea, to oversee and advise on performance, he's a pretty busy fellow.

So, how did such an eminent name in the music world happen to fit the Arnside and Milnthorpe Festival into a diary of truly international magnitude?

Apparently, because of his connection with Glyn Hopkins who once taught Wynford music.

Those who want to take part in the masterclasses should contact Glyn Hopkins on 015395-63030.

Tickets for the choral concert and the Musical World of Wynford Evans are both £6.

Available from Kath Crompton on 01524-761725 or Kath Singleton on 015395-62221.

May 1, 2003 12:00