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Double award win for Knaresborough's Knot Another Choir

Tuesday, 21 April 2026 07:39

Knot Another Choir at the Eskdale Festival of the Arts National Choir Day.

A choir from Knaresborough is celebrating success after securing two first-place finishes at a national music festival.

Knot Another Choir took part in the Eskdale Festival of the Arts National Choir Day on Saturday (18th April), marking its debut appearance at the event.

The festival was held at Whitby Pavilion, overlooking the North Yorkshire coastline.

The choir entered two competitive classes during the day and went on to win both, performing a varied programme that showcased a mix of contemporary and traditional arrangements.

In the Mixed Voices Class, the group performed “Happy Together” alongside a rendition of “Run” by Snow Patrol, earning first place and the ETS trophy.

They followed this with another winning performance in the Recital Class, which featured “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”, and an arrangement of “Steal Away” by Mark DeLisser.

The performance secured them The Eskdale Tournament of Song Norman Strafford Memorial Trophy, a historic award dating back to 1919, along with a £100 prize.

A spokesperson for Knot Another Choir said

"This success is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and spirit of our choir, which continues to go from strength to strength under the leadership of our Musical Director, Craig Lees.

"We were expertly accompanied on the piano by our talented young accompanist, Stefan Wardle — and we couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved.

"A huge thank you to our supporters who joined us on the day — your presence meant a great deal to us."

The event attracted choirs from across the country, with organisers noting a high standard of competition throughout the day.

Feedback from adjudicator Philip Dewhurst praised both the quality of performance and the connection of the group.

The choir has a number of upcoming appearances planned across the region, including performances at the Harrogate Community Festival at the Royal Hall, as well as summer dates at Newby Hall and Valley Gardens.

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