THE 50th anniversary of Guisborough Choral Society will be marked with a festival of music from June 10 to 24.

The opening event on Saturday, June 10, is a Concert of Light Music featuring tunes and songs from choral versions of The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel, arrangements of folk songs such as Dance to Your Daddy and Mairi’s Wedding, songs by Purcell and Elgar and spirituals.

Prior Pursglove students will perform instrumental interludes. The concert starts at 7.30pm in St Nicholas' Church Hall, Bow Street, Guisborough.

The festival ends with a major concert by Guisborough Choral Society with full orchestra.

This 50th anniversary concert will feature Vivaldi’s Gloria, choral classics such as Schubert’s joyous Mass in C Major and the Gloria from Cantata 191 by Bach, as well as Handel’s ever-popular Halleluiah Chorus.

A particular treat will be the charming, witty and dramatic Prayers from the Ark – readings of Bernos de Gastold’s poems and sung settings of them by Ivor Davies.

This takes place on Saturday, June 24, at 7.30pm in Guisborough Methodist Church, Westgate.

The middle weekend of the fortnight sees a songs of praise in Gisborough Priory, presented by Guisborough Churches Together, with Guisborough Salvation Army Band, at 2.30pm on Sunday, June 18. No ticket is required for this occasion.

Other events in festival fortnight are singing workshops for Guisborough primary schools and local U3A groups.

Tickets for the two choral society concerts are: Concert of Light Music, £6, concessions £5, under-19s, £1; 50th anniversary concert, £10, concessions £8, under-19s £1, all available from Guisborough Bookshop and Greensleeves Music in Chaloner Street, or www.wegottickets.com.