A TATTENHALL woman has conducted her way to a coveted position within the Hallé Orchestra.

Frances Cooke, of Tattenhall Road, has been appointed associate choral conductor with the Hallé.

The 54-year-old has spent the past decade working extensively with the Hallé Choir and says she was delighted to be appointed.

After graduating from Clare College, Cambridge where she read music and was a Choral Scholar, Frances went on to sing with many leading chamber choirs including the Sixteen, Tallis Scholars and BBC Singers; she is now a member of the BBC Daily Service Singers based in Didsbury.

She has been musical director of the Chester Festival Chorus since 1991 collaborating with conductors including Yan Pascal Tortelier, Vasily Petrenko, Richard Hickox and David Hill.

Frances currently teaches singing at the King’s School, Chester.

She said: “I feel very honoured to have been given this post. I have working with the Hallé for some years so it is lovely to be officially recognised.

“It is also wonderful to be able to talk to my pupils about it.”