THIS IS ELGAR FOR EVERYONE
TO TAKE PART in the 2025 ELGAR FESTIVAL CHORUS, please click here to apply!
Would you like to join the 2025 Elgar Festival Chorus to sing John Ireland’s majestic work for Baritone Solo, Chorus and Orchestra ‘These Things Shall Be’?
Ireland – These Things Shall Be (Proms 2012) (youtube.com)
The chorus will perform the piece at the Elgar Festival Gala Concert on Saturday 31 May in Worcester Cathedral with the English Symphony Orchestra, baritone Gareth Brynmor John, and conductor Kenneth Woods.
The Gala programme will include the song-cycle ‘Out of the Shadows’ by 2025 Festival Composer, Ian Venables in the premiere of its full orchestral version, and the concert will conclude with Elgar’s mighty Symphony No.2.
We invite experienced singers to commit to a limited number of highly focussed rehearsals, from February through to May, led by Elgar Festival Chorus Master, Stephen Shellard (Director, Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir and Proteus Ensemble) and ESO conductor and Festival Director, Kenneth Woods.
Welcome from Stephen Shellard: ‘In 2025 the Elgar Festival Chorus will explore the ‘English impressionist’ John Ireland’s ‘These Things shall be’. It was his biggest choral work showing the influences of Debussy, Stravinsky and Edward Elgar and was commissioned by the BBC to celebrate the coronation of George the 6th in 1937. It is a powerful and stirring tour de force and I hope you will consider joining us as we continue to build on the successes of Worcester’s newest chorus!’
Welcome from Kenneth Woods: There’s nothing like the thrill of singing with a great group of friends and colleagues and a world class symphony orchestra. The Elgar Festival Chorus is a vital part of the Elgar Festival, bringing together outstanding choral singers from around the region under the leadership of chorus master Stephen Shellard. I’m so pleased to invite you to come sing with us in the 2025 festival as we perform John Ireland’s oratorio These Things Shall Be. It’s a powerful musical vision of a better and brighter tomorrow, full of thrilling music and gorgeous melodies. Join us!
Singers are asked to make a commitment to attend at least five rehearsals from the list below, including the conductor’s rehearsal on Bank Holiday Monday, and to be available for the afternoon rehearsal on the day of the concert.
Sat 1 Feb 10am – 1pm
Sat 15 Feb 10am – 1pm
Sat 1 March 10am – 1pm
Sat 29 March 10am – 1pm
Sat 26 April 10am – 1pm
Sat 17 May` 10am – 1pm
Mon 26 May 10am – 4.30pm
Sat 31 May afternoon time tbc
Sat 31 May CONCERT @ 7.30pm
All rehearsals will be held at St Andrew’s Church, Pump Street, Worcester, WR1 2QT
The church is in a pedestrianised area just off Worcester High Street with full wheelchair access and a lift or stairs to all floors. There are several public car parks within a 5 min walk. Bus station and Foregate St train station are 15-20 mins walk
TO TAKE PART in the 2025 ELGAR FESTIVAL CHORUS, please click here to register!
- Loan of vocal scores will be provided
- There is no charge to take part
- Singers are expected to attend at least 5 of the 7 Saturday morning rehearsals, plus the conductor’s rehearsal on Monday 26 May and rehearsals on concert day.
- EFC singers are eligible for one free ticket on the door at any festival event that is not sold out, on production of their EFC membership wristband.
ABOUT THE ELGAR FESTIVAL
Sat 24 May to Sun 1 June 2025
Set in the composer’s hometown and surrounding areas over the week closest to Elgar’s birthday (June 2nd) the Festival is an annual celebration of Elgar’s music spanning symphonic and string orchestra concerts by the resident English Symphony Orchestra, along with chamber concerts, choral concerts, Come and Play Day, recitals, workshops, masterclasses, street performances, a young composers competition, exhibits, tours and talks.
Since its inauguration in 2018, when it was a Critic’s Pick in both the Guardian and The Times, the Festival has doubled in size and scale and continues to grow annually through an innovative development programme of appealing and accessible events, working with hundreds of both internationally renowned professional artists and amateur musicians and performers of all ages to ensure Elgar really is for everyone
Venues this year include Worcester Cathedral, Royal Porcelain Works, The Guildhall, Malvern Priory, Pershore Abbey, St Martin’s London Road, All Saints Deansway, St George’s Barbourne, St Martin in the Cornmarket, Elgar’s Birthplace The Firs, Huntingdon Hall, St Wulstan’s at Little Malvern, St George’s RC Church and Piston Distillery
We look forward to welcoming you!
www.elgarfestival.org