AN internationally known opera and oratorio singer is to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Kidderminster Town Hall with a solo concert featuring works by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar.

Bass baritone Roderick Williams will also be singing some of his own compositions as well as songs by Trevor Hold at the concert on Friday, May 6.

The event, which is being promoted by Kidderminster Choral Society as part of its 2005 music festival, is called Earth, Air and Rain after the song cycle by Gerald Finzi that is also on the programme.

Williams studied opera at the Guildhall School of Music and has won several prizes and awards.

He has since performed at many London venues, with some of his most recent work being in Britten's Gloriana at the Royal Festival Hall and Copland's The Tender Land with the London Sinfonia at the Barbican.

He has also performed under Richard Hickox in Billy Budd and made his debut with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra last year in Elgar's Dream of Gerontius.

He has given recitals at Wigmore Hall and on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM and has performed with Kidderminster Choral Society twice in the past.

Tickets for his solo concert, which starts at 7.30pm, are available from the town hall, Kidderminster Library Council Shop and Bewdley Books.

They can also be obtained by calling Bob Powell on 01562 60112 or on the door on the night of the concert.

The programme for Kidderminster Music Festival 2005 began with the world premiere of Geoff Cummings-Knight's Severn Rides For Severn Lovers at the beginning of March and includes 12 events.

More information on it can be obtained by calling Ray Harrowing on 01562 822476.

Further details on the Town Hall Festival are available from Sue Harper on 01562 520505.