AFTER many months of virtual rehearsals, Ilkley’s leading chamber choir, Cantores Olicanae, is thrilled to be singing ‘live’ again under the baton of their young, talented new Musical Director, Charlie Perry.

In 2018, Charlie graduated from the University of Manchester with First Class Honours in Music. Since then he has been pursuing a freelance music career as a conductor, arranger, singer and composer covering a diverse variety of genres. As well as his new role with Cantores Olicanae, Charlie is Director of Music at the Manchester Oratory, Musical Director of the Lindow Singers and Assistant Conductor of the Kinder Youth Choirs. He also sings as a tenor with Kantos Chamber Choir and various other groups in Manchester. By no means restricted to the classical world, Charlie was Musical Director of a number of musical productions including Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods’ and a premiere of a student-written musical ‘The Clockmakers Tale’. In 2019, he also directed a production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ at the Edinburgh Fringe with the Manchester-based company, Delicious Theatre.

The choir is currently rehearsing for their concert on November 6 at 7.30pm in St Margaret’s Church, Ilkley. The programme will include Faure’s Requiem and Pavane - further details will be published closer to the concert date.

Cantores Olicanae is actively recruiting tenors and basses. If anyone is interested, email or ring 07729 63313 for further details.

To find out more about Cantores Olicanae, or about this and future concerts visit www.cantoresolicanae.org.uk