Covent Garden really is coming to Malton this month after Malton District Male Voice Choir did the seemingly impossible by “nabbing” the Royal Opera’s Kate McCarney and piano virtuoso Stuart Day as soloists for its annual concert.

“Truth be told, both high-flying performers are long-time friends of the Malton choir’s musical director, Chris Thornton-Holmes, and that has to help,” says chairman Tom Todd. “When Chris is not conducting at regular Friday practices in Malton, he’s performing at Covent Garden or teaching singing in Scarborough.”

Mezzo-soprano Kate and seasoned Scarborough musician Stuart will perform with the choir in the Milton Rooms, Malton, on October 31. She sings regularly with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden; he trained at the Royal College of Music.

Chris Thornton-Holmes not only will conduct the 30-strong choir, with Vivien Wilcock at the piano, but also will sing at the 7.30pm concert.

This will be the first night of another busy season of charity appearances by the choir, whose members have raised thousands of pounds for local causes from nearly 20 concerts since September 2007.

“We’ve all had a great time so far in our two years together,” says Tom. “It’s hard work and it’s been hectic, but we’ve been given a superb welcome wherever we have sung. There hasn’t been a choir like this in our district for years, as far as we know. Clearly people love the male voice sound.”

Tickets are available at £7 from Leefe Stationers in the Market Square, Malton, or on the door. A week after the annual concert, the choir will perform for the second year running at a Remembrance concert, in Norton.

Further performances will follow at Pocklington Methodist Church, on November 7, and at Ryedale House, in Malton, for the Soroptomists, on November 13. Christmas events are planned too.