SEDBERGH Music Festival has got off to a cracking start.

Festival director, Tony Reed Screen, said Manchester Gospel Choir opened proceedings with their bright sashes against black costumes, swirling African colours and fine voices.

He added: “After months of planning, suddenly the whole Sedbergh Festival was alive and very, very well indeed.

“We followed that with mesmerising Brahms and Schubert on the Monday lunchtime, final rehearsals for The Messiah the same night, and the thoughtfully delicious after dinner cabaret harmonies of Five-in-a Bar.”

Tony explained that the next night St Andrew’s Church was filled with the exotic colours of South America with Salsa Pa’Gozar, with every member of the audience dancing in the aisles – literally, then back to earthier pleasures before a packed house on the Wednesday for the Sedbergh Town Band guided by Carole Marsden, featuring as both soloist and first time on the podium, 15-year old-apprentice conductor, Ben Morgan, as well as the Youth Band.

Still to come are Sedbergh Orchestra performing Music in Time of War on tonight (Thursday, 8pm) and celebrated Ukrainian soprano Alla Kravchuk appears tomorrow (Friday, June 13, 8pm).

“This leaves us,” continued Tony, “with Saturday’s day-long workshop followed by the evening performance (7pm) of The Messiah, under the baton of Tim Brown, with soloists, the Festival Ensemble and Chorus to bring the whole thing to an uplifting finale.”

All festival events are staged a St Andrew’s Church, Sedbergh.

Tickets from the box office on 015396-20125 or from Sedbergh Community Information Centre.