STEETON Male Voice Choir's musical director is celebrating his 50th year as a conductor.

Alan Clark has spent the past 22 years leading the award-winning choir in concerts at least once a month around the Yorkshire region.

The Lancashire-born choir master has also accompanied the Steeton singers on their numerous annual tours across the UK and Europe.

Alan last year marked his 600th performance as a musical director with an emotional concert, featuring both the Steeton singers and one of his previous choirs in Coventry.

He can next be seen conducting next Saturday, April 23, when Steeton Male Voice Choir performs with Otley Brass Band at a St George's Day concert in Bradford Cathedral in aid of Manorlands.

Alan began his conducting career in 1966 by steering the Sutton Baptist Church Choir through two Palm Sunday anthems.

He became musical director at nearby Sutton Amateurs for musicals such as Wild Violets, Annie Get Your Gun and Brigadoon and then he had to move to Northallerton for work.

A series of job-related moves during the next few years saw him conduct stage productions and concerts in Northallerton, Warwickshire, Coventry and Rugby.

Alan moved across the Atlantic to Ohio in the mid-80s to take up a post with a Swedish company and, before long, he was directing choirs and producing shows for the Americans.

Back in the UK, he returned to his Coventry and Rugby choirs, before moving to the Pendle area in 1990 with his wife Christine and family.

Steeton Male Voice Choir spokesman, David Barraclough, said the group had benefited from Alan’s services for 22 years and, hopefully, for many more to come.

He added: “Alan works tirelessly for the choir preparing them for their ever-demanding concert schedule.

“Monday evening rehearsals are eventful and fun as Alan strives for musical perfection, which at times can be challenging when trying to control 70 choristers, whose idea of perfection might not actually be the same!”

Mr Barraclough said that unlike many conductors, Alan did not use a baton, instead relying on a steely glaze towards any section of the choir whose voices were discordant!

Mr Barraclough added: “This is usually enough to ensure perfect harmony the next time through, and the frown quickly turns to his infectious smile.”