A DYNAMIC string quartet from the Royal College of Music in London will perform in Skipton next month.

Together they

The Arcus Quartet, who have performed in concert halls across the UK, will hit the road for their Northern Tour in early February.

The quartet will perform at venues in Todmorden and Barrowford before travelling to Manchester Cathedral and finishing at Skipton Town Hall for a concert at 7.30pm on Thursday, February 8.

The ensemble want to use the tour as a way of bringing their love of music to the local community in its entirety.

To do so, they are launching an educational project alongside their concert series, bringing music into schools and local community centres in an area that originally inspired their cellist, Ruth Hallows, to pursue her career in music.

Ruth said: “As a local girl growing up in Cornholme, most of my music lessons were through the Lancashire Music Service and I was part of the Lancashire Youth Symphony Orchestra for many years. I was also very fortunate to be in a high school where music played a huge part in its day to day life.”

The main event of the Arcus Quartet’s project will be a children’s lunchtime concert held at Manchester Cathedral before their evening recital for the general public.

The children’s concert, A Trip Across Europe, will be a speedy voyage through various European countries including their homes of Finland, Germany, Austria and Britain.

“We’ll be taking you on a musical journey all around Europe presenting famous composers and their pieces from various nations,” said violinist Abel Puustinen. “It’s going to be an extremely exciting, perfect for any intrepid explorer.”

The programme for the Skipton concert will be Haydn's String Quartet no. 62 in C major, Emperor, Op. 76; Shostakovich's String Quartet no. 7 in F sharp minor, Op. 108; and Mendelssohn's String Quartet no. 4 in E minor, Op. 44.

To book tickets ring the Skipton Town Hall box office on 01756 792809 or visit arcusquartet.com