AFTER nearly two years of singing online, choirs across the district are returning to live concerts this festive season.

“It has been a difficult 20 months, and people have missed the friendship and sheer joy of singing together,” said Rob Voakes, chairman of Bradford Festival Choral Society. Last year many families were forced to spend Christmas apart. This year we really hope that our audiences will support us all and that we can celebrate time together again.

“For many choirs this will be their first concert after lockdown.”

Last month Mr Voakes told the T&A that Bradford Festival Choral Society feared it would make a loss returning to live performances until audience levels were fully restored. The historic choir returned to the stage in November with its Cloudburst concert at Bradford Grammar School, which included the premiere of a video collaboration with Bradford Friendship Choir.

“It was wonderful to return to live performance, and the concert was a great success,” said Mr Voakes. “Although in lockdown we had no income from ticket sales, our costs were less by not having to pay for rehearsal and performance spaces.

“It’s great to be performing again, but this next year we will paying to use venues, and have less income while membership and audiences take time to build up to pre-Covid levels.”

He added: “Our choir is cautiously optimistic that audiences will return for Christmas. Numbers for our first concert in November exceeded expectations. I think that although people are rightly still cautious, we now want to get back to enjoying the things that make life worth living, shared experiences and live performances.”

Peter Sherlock, founder and music director of Bradford-based Chordiality, said: “People now desperately want to enjoy all the things they’ve missed. All of us are adapting our concerts to minimise the risk of infection from Covid, but it’s understandable that some of our audience will continue to exercise caution.

“The sound of a choir is not essential to life, but for us it’s one of the things that really makes life worth living. It has has been a joy to get back together and start singing ‘in-person’ again.

“We are delighted that we’re able to perform our two traditional Christmas concerts.”

Here are details of choirs that are performing in the district this Christmas. For some concerts, tickets must be booked in advance - see websites for details.

* Great Yorkshire Chorus and Bradford and Airedale Youth Choir’s Christmas Spectacular on Friday, December 10, 7.15pm at

St George’s Hall, Bradford. A concert of festive and uplifting music to get the audience in the spirit of Christmas.

For tickets go to baycstaff@gmail.com or call 07817782480

* Harrogate Choral Society and Manchester Camarata performs Handel’s Messiah on Saturday, December 11, 7pm at the Royal Hall, Harrogate. “We’re so happy to be back singing again after lockdown,” says the choir.

For tickets go to harrogatetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/Handel-Messiah-Harrogate-Choral-Society-2021

* Chordiality at Christmas, a celebration of Christmas in music and readings, at St Barnabas Church, Heaton, on Sunday, December 12, 3pm and Holy Spirit Church, Heckmondwike, on Sunday, December 19, 3pm. “We are delighted to be able to sing again following the pandemic and the concerts are our first in two years!” says the choir.

Tickets available on the door and at chordiality.choir@hotmail.com

* Steeton Male Voice Choir’s Christmas concert on Sunday, December 12, 3pm at Keighley Parish Church. “We are delighted to be back performing in our first concert since the lockdowns. Come come along and enjoy live music once again,” says the choir.

For tickets go go steetonmalevoice.co.uk

* Bradford Chorale, A Celebration of Christmas Music, on Tuesday, December 14, 7.30pm, at Northcliffe Church, Shipley.

Tickets available on the door and at tickets@bradfordchorale.org.uk

* Village Voices, Baildon’s Sing a Song of Merry Christmas on Wednesday, December 15, 7.45pm, at Baildon Methodist Church.

An evening of songs to celebrate the joy of singing and Christmas.

For tickets go to village.voices@outlook.com

* Bradford Festival Choral Society and Rothwell Temperance Band presents Carols, Choir, Brass! on Saturday, December 18, 6pm

at Bradford Grammar School. Favourite carols and a feast of Christmas music for all the family.

For tickets go to bradfordfestivalchoralsociety.org.uk/concerts