The new season of Ilkley Concert Club gets under way on Wednesday (October 2) with a musical celebration of community stalwart David Pyett, who has been chairman of the club for the last 36 years.

Highlights of the first concert of the club’s 67th season will be Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring and a specially commissioned piece to honour Mr Pyett’s work: Tarka by Arthur Butterworth.

Secretary of the club Josephine Wesley said: "This year the members can feel they have a real part in the presentation of a world premiere. The members' generous contributions have helped fund the 13 player wind, string and piano ensemble needed for Appalachian Spring and also the performance of Arthur Butterworth’s work Tarka. The new work uses the same range of instruments and was specially commissioned as a piece dedicated to David Pyett in recognition of his contribution to the club. It will have its world premiere on Wednesday.

"The programme opens with a Bach suite for flute and strings followed by a Poulenc sonata featuring David’s favourite instrument, the clarinet. Lively pieces by Benjamin Britten and Percy Grainger complete what will be a real evening of celebration.

"Performers will be the Manchester Chamber Ensemble, the wind trio Cuillin Sound, pianist Jonathan Scott and conductor Richard Howarth. Several players are old friends of the Ilkley audience, and all have busy careers with the Manchester Camerata and other professional orchestras in the north of England."

Mrs Wesley said that introducing audiences to new works has always been part of the brief of Ilkley Concert Club, with a motto of "entertain and educate through classical music".

As well as being chairman since 1977, David Pyett was also a founding member of Ilkley Concert Club back in April, 1946.

The club has a tradition of season tickets being sold out fast but there is always the chance to get tickets for individual concerts.

Josephine said: "Subscription tickets have sold out again for the new season of Ilkley Concert Club, and this is not surprising when you view the list of top concerts on offer.

“However, do not despair if you are not a season ticket holder because seats are always available for individual concerts and we also have a tradition of concert club members letting us know if they cannot attend a concert so that their tickets can be made available for re-sale.”

Ilkley Concert Club chairman David Wharmby asks that any season ticket holders who are unable to attend to contact Jennie Rundle on 01943 609045 between 10am and 7pm, this is the same number as requests for tickets.