A NEW musical director has set out a vision for Skipton Choral Society.

“I like to bring a bit of humour to rehearsals,” said Robert Webb, who was recently appointed as musical director of Skipton Choral Society. “It’s about singing musically and singing as a group. It’s about that blended sound.

“The notes are not as important as the overall effect,” he added. “What’s most important is getting the best performance out of the choir.”

Robert Webb, a singer, conductor and teacher from Leeds, read music at Merton College, Oxford, during which time he was principal trumpet in the Oxford University Philharmonic Orchestra and musical director of the Donut Kings Big Band.

Robert was one of the first choral scholars in the new Choral Foundation at Merton, singing baritone under the tutelage of Giles Underwood and the direction of Peter Phillips and Ben Nicholas.

Robert teaches in and around West Yorkshire and is demand as a conductor, directing The Ascension Singers, a vocal consort formed in 2011 specialising in Renaissance polyphony and contemporary music, Pinsuti, a small chamber choir based in the Ilkley area who specialise in unaccompanied sacred and secular music, and Vocal Expressions, a ladies choir based in the Holme Valley.

Robert will take his first rehearsal with Skipton Choral Society from 7pm to 9pm on Monday at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton.

His first performance with the choir will be conducting The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins on Sunday, November 26, at Christ Church, Skipton.

“It’s got something for everybody in it, and it’s a really great piece to sing as a choir” said Robert. “I’m really looking forward to that.”

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and playing American Football.

Anyone interested in singing with the choir is welcome to turn up at the rehearsal on Monday or email membership@skiptonchoralsociety.com