SETTLE Orchestra, under its Colombian conductor Maria Camilla Barboza, is looking forward to presenting a varied and attractive programme in Skipton and in Settle in March.

A spokesperson for Settle Orchestra said both concerts would be held at the earlier time of 3.30pm which it was hoped would be especially convenient for some members of the audience.

"The programme is built round two contrasting works from the early 20th century, Elgar’s well loved cello concerto and the “Pequeña suite” by the Colombian composer Adolfo Mejílla.

"For the Elgar concerto, with its impassioned and nostalgic farewell to the Edwardian era, we are delighted to welcome again the orchestra’s principal cellist Bob Buller; audiences will remember his spell-binding performance of Tchaikovsky and Haydn in recent years. "Mejílla’s “little suite” will be less familiar to English audiences but is immediately appealing with its Latin American rhythms, beguiling melodies and exotic instrumental effects.

"Two evergreen works from the orchestral repertoire, Weber’s dramatic overture to his opera “Der Freischütz” and Grieg’s suite no 1 from his incidental music to Ibsen’s “Peer Gynt”, make up the rest of the programme."

The concerts will take place at 3.30pm on Saturday, March 16 at Christ Church, Skipton; and at 3.30pm on Saturday, March 23 at Settle Parish Church.

Further details and tickets from the orchestra’s website at http://www.settleorchestra.org.uk/