A POPULAR Dales music and arts festival is this year focusing on the celebration of the human voice – with more choirs, soloists and speakers than ever before.

The Swaledale Festival, which takes place from May 23 to June 6, has an emphasis on classical music, but aims to make the genre accessible to all ages and interests.

Artistic director Malcolm Creese brings in performers from around the world – but also champions young and local talent.

This year’s event is set to feature the King’s Singers, who topped the bill in 2012 and will return to perform in St Andrew’s Church, Grinton, on Friday, May 29, with a programme of songs from the reign of Elizabeth I, all the way through to the Great American songbook

Participation by local ensembles is always an important feature of Swaledale Festival, and local amateur choir the Swale Singers will sing music by Haydn, Rutter and Randall Thompson on June 3 in St Andrew’s church, Aysgarth.

On Saturday, June 6, stars of ITV’s The Dales – folk group Fourum – will be in St Mary's Church, Arkengarthdale with their own musical take on the past life and history of the dales.

A former King’s Singer Bob Chilcott is leading a Big Sing Day on Saturday, May 30 at Richmond School, where up to 500 singers will join in a rousing choral ensemble.

Other acts include soloists, lectures and poetry reading – as well as other non-vocal performances from orchestras and solo musicians.

Peter Denison-Edson, chairman of the Swaledale Festival Board, said: “Once again Malcolm Creese has assembled an outstanding array of artists and activities for the 2015 Swaledale Festival.

“We are also using a splendid variety of concert venues from the tiny Keld chapel at the head of Swaledale to the large, exciting new facilities at Tennants of Leyburn – and many fine churches, chapels and halls throughout the Northern Dales.”

Full details can be found on the festival’s new website – swalefest.org