LOCAL music societies are about to begin the new concert season and once again there is the prospect of listening to a wide range of classical music performed by both young and established artists, writes Peter Bevan.

Two societies, Darlington and Teesside, start with the same musicians but largely different programmes.

On Saturday, October 8, the Sacconi Quartet, which has impressed audiences on previous visits to the region, plays Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven at the Central Hall, Darlington, and the following evening (Sunday) Mozart, Dvorak and Schubert at Stokesley Methodist Church.

In a rare triumph of tour planning, the quartet also performs on Monday, October 10, at Ripon Cathedral (01765 606689) and on Saturday, October 15, at St Oswald’s Church, Sowerby (01845 518001), both with clarinettist Robert Plane.

Darlington Music Society's season continues on Saturday, November 12, with violinist Savriti Grier and pianist Jean-Selim Abdelmoula, who gave a solo recital last year. This concert is at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Vane Terrace as the Central Hall is unavailable.

Pianist Riyad Nicolas follows on January 21, harp and flute duo Syrinx (February 18), the Primrose Piano Quartet (March 18) and cellist Ella Rundle and pianist Miho Kawashima (April 22).

Apart from the November date, concerts are at 7.30pm in the Central Hall. Single tickets are £12.50, a season ticket for all six £50, under-25s free; full details from Rob Tooze on 01325 467163.

Teesside Music Society concerts in Stokesley Methodist Church continue on Sunday, November 6, 7.15pm, with pianist Katya Apekisheva performing Scriabin, Faure, Chopin and Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.

On Sunday, December 11, at 3pm, the five-piece Poetical Musicke presents works from the Baroque era including Purcell and Handel. Concerts continue with the Nightingale String Quartet (January 15, 3pm), Trio Dali (February 19, 7.15pm) and violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen (March 19, 7.15pm).

Single tickets are £13, under-19s and students £4, season tickets £57; details from 01642 711618 or visit www.teessidemusicsociety.weebly.com.

Darlington Piano Society, whose recitals are on Sunday afternoons at 3pm in Central Hall, launches its 21st season on October 23 with a return visit by Ashley Wass who will follow a Shakespearian theme with music by Beethoven, Smetana, Liszt and Prokofiev.

On November 20, also at the Sixth Form College, Ashley Fripp brings more Beethoven and Prokofiev as well as Preludes by Rachmaninov, and on December 11 (at Central Hall) Olivia Sham returns with Schumann, Schubert, Chopin and Liszt.

The new year brings Jinah Shim (January 29), Vadym Kholodenko, winner of the Van Cliburn Competition in 2013 on his UK debut tour (February 19) and Amandine Savary (March 26).

Single tickets are £12, £6 for under-21s, from the Dolphin Centre (01325 388410) and season tickets £55 from 01325 401061; details at www.dpiano.co.uk.

Apologies to Richmondshire Subscription Concerts, whose season started on September 24. Its programme continues on Saturday, October 22, with the ten-piece North East Brass Ensemble which combines players from both classical orchestral and prize-winning bands.

On Saturday, December 3, Cleveland Chamber Orchestra will play Dvorak, Holst and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with Opera North leader David Greed as soloist and conductor.

The year continues with Frith Piano Quartet augmented by John Tattersdill’s double bass on January 21, the Piatti String Quartet on February 25 and regular visitors the Carducci Quartet on April 1. Concerts start at 7.30pm in the Influence Church, Richmond. Single tickets are £14, full-time students £1 and season tickets are reduced to £42. Details 01748 822640 or 821343 or www.rscconcerts.org.

For even better value, the four societies have an arrangement allowing people to buy half-price membership of one if a member of another. They are, respectively, Darlington Music Society with Richmond, and Darlington Piano Society with Teesside.