THIS year sees Skipton Music celebrating its 75th anniversary season with an exciting and innovative themed series of six groundbreaking concerts featuring more than 30 different women composers entitled ’Hidden Treasures: Celebrating Women Composers across the Ages’.

Skipton Music’s concerts secretary, Sally Johnson, says: “ The title is inspired by the idea that we believe there is quite literally a ‘treasure trove’ of music out there composed by women - music we’re simply not getting to hear.”

In 2020 only five per cent of all the classical music performed was composed by women - a shocking statistic which was brought to light by the charity ‘Donne: Women in Music’.

Sadly, a trawl through Skipton Music’s own back catalogue merely confirmed this sorry state of affairs: of some 2000 works performed since 1947, Sally could find no more than 20 that were written by women.

She said: “We wanted to mark our 75th anniversary season in a really special way, doing something that might just make a difference. To this end, we have put together what we hope is an exciting and innovative themed series of concerts devoted to women composers.”

While some of the programmes consist solely of works by female composers, many of this year’s artists chose to showcase the work of female composers alongside their male contemporaries.

The season kicks off on Tuesday October 4 at Skipton Town Hall with I, Clara - Clara Schumann: A Life in Music.

Described as ‘One of the must-see events of the musical calendar’ by BBC Music Magazine, the show features the creator of I, Clara, renowned pianist and broadcaster Lucy Parham, and acclaimed actor Joanna David, of Downton Abbey and Inspector Morse as the narrator. Together they tell the extraordinary life story of Clara Schumann - child prodigy, celebrated composer and one of the most influential concert pianists of the 19th century.

The narrative of I, Clara, drawn from letters and diaries, is interspersed with live performances of her works, and of music by Robert Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn, Fanny Mendelssohn and Chopin.

Tickets available online from Skipton Town Hall Box Office at:https://skiptontownhall.co.uk/whats-on/

You can also purchase tickets in person or by phone from:Skipton Information and Visitor Centre.

Season tickets for all six concerts on sale now until the end of September. Season ticket holders get to see all six concerts for the price of four and retain the same seat. General admission £105; Under 30 £50; Under 19 £10. Single concert tickets available from October 1. General admission £25Under 30; £10 Under 19 £2.

To find out more about Skipton Music’s 75th anniversary season see www.skiptonmusic.org.uk