THE long standing secretary of Skipton Music will be standing down at the end of the music society's latest season.

Rowena 'Bunty' Leder has been secretary of the prestigious music society, known for its eclectic mix of classical concerts, for 28 years, but has announced this will be her last season.

Meanwhile the society, which has been going since 1947, will for the coming season - which kicks off on October 23 and runs until March - hold its monthly, Tuesday, concerts at Christ Church, Keighley Road, Skipton, instead of Skipton Town Hall, while refurbishment takes place.

Regular concert goers are being asked to take note of the new, temporary venue, and plan accordingly.

The season will kick off on Tuesday, October 23 with Ensemble 360, a string quintet with added clarinet, bassoon and horn.

In November the internationalist pianist, Steven Osborne will play Debussy, Schubert and Prokofiev, while the Christmas concert will feature Gitarrissima of Vienna, five young women guitarists.

In January the violinist, Alina Ibragimova returns to Skipton with the Chiaroscuro String Quartet, and in February, Lux

Musicae of London will perform twice, to children in the afternoon, and again in the evening.

The season will finish in March with a return visit of the tenor, James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook accompanying on piano.

Mrs Leder said: "The music society committee is rather anxious about the first concert because of the 'different' seating arrangements in the church and would ask all their concertgoers to exercise much patience and forbearance."

She will be replaced as secretary by Sally Johnson. To find out more, visit the website: skiptonmusic.org.uk , for tickets, contact the Box Office on 01756 799912