CLIVE Walkley picks-up his acclaimed Pro Nobis Singers baton next weekend to celebrate the ensemble's 35th birthday.

Joining the eminent singers for their Saturday, June 19 (7.30pm) concert at Kendal Parish Church, are three highly regarded soloists, who return for their second appearance with Pro Nobis.

Soprano Evelyn Tubb; tenor Andrew King, and bass Simon Grant, are renowned for their performances of music from the 18th Century and earlier.

They are artists who have achieved international status through their work with the Consort of Musicke and many other specialist performing groups and via solo recitals, broadcasts and recordings.

The programme features music by Handel.

Before the German composer became famous with his great Messiah oratorio, he was employed as resident composer by the Duke of Chandos, who had a palatial country house at Cannons near Edgware, north of London.

For the Duke he wrote a set of anthems and a light-hearted, semi-theatrical entertainment called Acis and Galatea. This work, preceded by Chandos Anthem No 4, forms the basis of the choir's June 19 programme.

Accompanying choir and soloists will be a professional group of young instru-mentalists, Finchcocks Baroque, from London.

In the hope of recreating the sounds intended by the composer, the players will use instruments available in Handel's day, such as strings, oboes, recorders, organ, harpsichord and arch lute.

Acis and Galatea is a pastoral story from classical antiquity, describing how the love of the shepherd Acis for the goddess Galatea is thwarted by a monster. It contains some of the most delightful music ever written by the popular composer: tuneful, amusing and colourful.

For the record, Pro Nobis was formed in 1969 through various friends meeting at each others' homes to sing madrigals. Among the founders was Lakeland composer Robin Field and Clive their conductor.

The choir has grown into a class act, with many a well-known face from the region's performing arts world nestling among its vocal ranks: Anna Ridding, Janet McCallum, Alison and Alan Noble, Lucy Crispin and Tony Mason, head of Cartmel Primary School and chairman of the Making Music organisation, just to name a few.

Clive once told me that the essence of the choir was the enjoyment of exploring unknown repertoires. Good music, which was largely unheard of.

A grand adventure for both concertgoers and performers.

Programmes are available price £8/£6concessions/£4 for students in full-time education. To book, telephone 01539-723482.