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Amateur tenor and bass singers from across Worcestershire are being invited to join one of the County’s most prestigious classical choirs, starting from 9 January.

Worcester Festival Choral Society, which was established in 1861 and was often conducted by Sir Edward Elgar in its early days, currently has vacancies for additional tenors and basses to join its highly regarded, 140-strong chorus.

“If you sing tenor or bass and think you might enjoy learning and performing the ‘classical choral greats’ with us in magnificent Worcester Cathedral, we’d love to hear from you!” says chairman and bass Ben Cooper. “We’re a very friendly lot with members of all ages, and always enjoy singing together. You don’t necessarily need previous choral experience, but some ability to read music is useful. The main thing is a love of singing!”

Led by Worcester Cathedral’s director of music, Samuel Hudson, the Society’s rehearsals are held in Worcester Cathedral on Monday evenings in school term-times. These culminate in three, major concerts each year at the Cathedral, performing famous choral works such as Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem – plus more recent classics – alongside a professional orchestra and world-class soloists. 

One of Worcester Festival Choral Society’s tenors, David Norledge, continues: “From the music to the social side, singing with WFCS is an incredibly rewarding, enjoyable experience. There’s even the chance to apply for the prestigious Three Choirs Festival Chorus each year.” 

Tenors and basses joining from January can look forward to singing the choir’s spring concert on Saturday 18 March 2023, when Elgar’s legendary choral masterpiece, The Dream of Gerontius will be performed to an audience of several hundred music-lovers. 

Interested tenor and bass singers should email membership secretary Alison Riddell at wfcs@wfcs.online, with a view to attending the choir’s first 2023 rehearsal at Worcester Cathedral on Monday 9 January from 7.30-9.30pm, free and with no obligation. 

More information about WFCS and joining the chorus can be found at www.wfcs.online/members. (There are currently no vacancies for sopranos or altos, though interested singers can join a waiting list).