AND BEYOND 2024-25. . .
Here is a sneak preview of the Choir's plans beyond the current season
Beyond 22 November 2025 all dates are still provisional
22 November 2025 French Masterpieces of the 20th Century
Poulenc Gloria
Ravel Ma Mère L’oye
Duruflé Requiem
December 2025 Christmas Crackers
March 2026 Beethoven Missa Solemnis
May 2026 Favourite Sacred Choruses
November 2026 Walton Belshazzar’s Feast
December 2026 Christmas Crackers
March 2027 Dvorak Stabat Mater
CELEBRITY CONCERT: ANTONINA SUHANOVA, piano
Wednesday 12 February 2025, 7.30pm
St Mary's Creative Space, Chester
Bach Prelude and Fugue in B flat minor, Book 1
Bach Prelude and Fugue in G major, Book 2
Shostakovich Prelude and Fugues in F# minor, A major and D minor, Op.87-
Mozart Fantasy in C minor, K.475
Schumann Fantasy in C major, Op.17
Tickets for this concert: £18. Season Tickets for all six concerts are available: £64
For advance purchases or to subscribe to a season ticket go to TICKETS
Or go direct to the BOX OFFICE
CELEBRITY CONCERT: GUY JOHNSTON, cello; MELVYN TAN, piano
Wednesday 12 March 2025, 7,30pm
St Mary's Creative Space, Chester
Saint-Saens: Cello Sonata No. 1 in C minor
Strauss: Cello Sonata in F Major, Op. 6
Chopin: Introduction and Polonaise, Op. 3
Chopin: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65
Tickets for this concert: £18. Season Tickets for all six concerts are available: £64
For advance purchases or to subscribe to a season ticket go to TICKETS
Or go direct to the BOX OFFICE
CHOIR: SPLENDOURS OF THE BAROQUE
Saturday 15 March 2025, 7.30pm
Chester Cathedral
Handel: Dixit Dominus
Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Trumpets
Bach: Magnificat
Georgie Malcolm soprano
Georgia Ellis soprano
Jess Conway mezzo soprano
Christopher Littlewood tenor
Billy Kyle bass
Julie Baker, Peter Athans trumpets
Chester Music Society Choir
Liverpool Sinfonia
Graham Jordan Ellis conductor
tickets, priced at £30 (nave), £25 (West Steps) and £15 (side aisles).
CLICK HERE to read more about ticketing
CLICK HERE to go direct to the online booking page
CHOIR: ROSSINI: PETITE MESSE SOLENELLE
Saturday 17 May 2025, 7.30pm
Chester Cathedral
Heather Buckmaster soprano
Joyce Tindsley mezzo-soprano
Joseph Buckmaster tenor
Armand Rabot bass
Chester Music Society Choir
Graham Eccles Piano
Jon Barton harmonium
Graham Jordan Ellis conductor
tickets, priced at £30 (nave), £25 (West Steps) and £15 (side aisles).
CLICK HERE to read more about ticketing
CLICK HERE to go direct to the online booking page
The Petite messe Solenelle is structured in several extended movements in the tradition of the missa solemnis, but the composer labelled it petite with a grain of irony. He wrote on the last page of the autograph manuscript
Dear Lord, here it is finished, this poor little mass. Have I just written sacred music, or rather, sacrilegious music? I was born for opera buffa, as you well know. Not much technique, a little bit of heart, that's all. Blessings to you and grant me Paradise.
The unusual scoring for voices, piano and harmonium is in the Neapolitan harpsichord tradition of the 18th century. Rossini specified, on the second page of his manuscript, twelve singers in all, noting on the title page: "Twelve singers of three sexes, men, women and castrati will suffice for its execution: that is, eight for the choir, four soloists, in all twelve cherubim".
SHOWCASE CONCERTS
23 October 2024, 7.30pm
Helsby Concert Band
Set up in 2019 by Jacky Keating to give people of all ages and levels of experience the opportunity to play in an ensemble. They play a wide variety of genres of music from pop songs to movie themes and pieces going back to the 1940’s. They have recently been awarded the Cheshire West Community and Voluntary Arts ‘Music’ award for 2024.
The band received the Cheshire West Community and Voluntary Arts Music award for 2024.
27 November 2024, 7.30pm
Chester Guitar Circle
The group, formed in the mid-1970s, meet monthly to play, listen to discuss and appreciate classical guitar music. Their aim is to encourage players of all standards to improve and enjoy performing as a soloist or in a variety of ensembles, and promote appreciation of guitar music in the wider community
29 January 2025, 7.30pm
Chester Young Musicians
An evening of outstanding musical performance given by the winners and runners up of the 2024 Young Musician of the Year competition held on 17 November 2024
26th February 2025, 7.30pm
Chester Community Orchestra
Established in 2001 by Musical Director Jan Modelski (as the Jan Modelski Community Orchestra) with the aim of giving as many musicians as possible the opportunity to play - regardless of age, ability or instrument. They now have three orchestras offering players a unique opportunity to progress through from Introductory level to Concert Orchestra - all under one roof.
26 March 2025, 7.30pm
Event TBA