VISITORS, shoppers and music lovers will be able to drop into Skipton Town Hall on Saturday (August 14) for a free, behind the scenes glimpse into the world of orchestral music making.

It is hoped the event will show people classical music - from Mozart and Bach to Strauss - is accessible to all, and immensely enjoyable.

The doors of Skipton’s newly refurbished town hall will be flung open from mid-morning, when passers-by will be encouraged to go in, watch and listen as Ben Crick, conductor of the Skipton Camerata, rehearses among others, a symphony by Mozart.

Ben said: “We’re really excited about this. Normally, we’d have a rehearsal or two in private and then put on a polished performance for our ticket-buying audience, but this time folks get to experience the polishing process, and for free.

The orchestra will also be rehearsing Bach’s concerto for two violins and orchestra, and a Serenade for Wind Instruments by Richard Strauss.

“We don’t mind if people just look in for a few minutes or stay the day, we just want to dispel the myth that classical music isn’t for everyone - it really is,” said Ben.

Last month, Skipton Camerata gave its first performance to a live audience in the newly restored Concert Hall since March of last year, and was sold out weeks in advance.

The orchestra is made up of freelance professional musicians, many of who have played together in the orchestra since it started in 2004.

According to Ben, a lot of the musicians have been driving delivery vans and working on building sites to make up for lost income during the pandemic.

Ben added: “It’s been a tough year, but we’re so glad to be back. The players are well up for this. Some of them are planning to do a bit of busking outside, Yorkshire weather permitting of course.”

The drop-in event, made possible thanks to funding from Skipton Building Society and the Garfield Weston Foundation, is in Skipton Town Hall on Saturday (August 14) from 10 am to 1 pm, with a run-through starting at 2 pm. It is entirely free, no pre-booking or tickets are required.

Craven Museum will also be open on Saturday, but with visitors asked to pre-book for a session of up to 75 minutes.

The museum has been completely transformed with people invited to come and ‘connect with local characters and landscapes from the past’. Some of the star objects on display include a rare copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio, a Roman Amethyst Intaglio and an Iron-Age sword found at Flasby.

Visit: skiptontownhall.co.uk