A WEST End starlet will be singing her heart out in Clitheroe on September 3 in a bid to bring classical music to the masses.

Opera singer Charlotte Kinder, a former West End leading lady in Phantom of the Opera, will be performing at the Grand Theatre.

This comes after the performer teamed up with her long-standing school friend Jane Schofield to launch a music events business promoting classical and opera music.

Ms Schofield, a business graduate, started Opera Events two years ago and decided to combine her skills in sales and marketing with Ms Kinder's successful musical career.

She said: “We want to take classical music to people of all ages and all walks of life, who may never have had the opportunity to experience live classical singing.

"Clitheroe seemed the ideal place with the Grand and my family connections in the town and we had both heard such a lot about the amazing acoustics there and I’m sure it will be a night to remember.

“We are trying to change misconceptions of opera being rather highbrow, our aim is to make opera and classical music fun and accessible to all.

"We’ve had a fabulous response from our opera events in West Lancashire and have built up quite a strong following there, we are hoping to do the same in East Lancashire."

The event has also been given the backing of Ribble Valley MP, Nigel Evans.

He said: "I fully support what Jane, Charlotte and their team are doing.

"I would ask the question - why should there be an opera deficit in rural areas?

"I hope that this will be a huge success and will make opera much more accessible, particularly to those who wouldn't necessarily think that opera appeals to them."

The performance will include highlights from some of the most famous operas including Mozart, Rossini and Donizetti as well as more recent operetta, Gilbert and Sullivan.

“I’m very excited about my first appearance at the Grand – we will make it a special night,” said Charlotte.

* Opera HA-HA is at the Grand Theatre, Clitheroe on Saturday, September 3 from 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 adults, £13 OAP and £5 under-16. Call 01200 421599 or visit the website below.