THERE are two possible reasons why Saturday night's concert at Pershore Abbey was not well attended: the football match was possibly one reason why and the second could be the unfamilliar name of the choir performing.

But while concert-goers may not have recognised the St George's Singers - the North of England choir so-called because they were formed in 1956 at St. George's Church in the small town of Poynton in Cheshire - the choice of repertoire was rather more well-known to the local area.

Early on in the programme, choices included works by Elgar, a fast-tempo rendition of As Torrents in Summer and the famous Chanson de Matin (played by organist Jeffrey Makinson as a solo organ arrangement.

Psalm 148 was set to a familiar hymn tune by Holst at the close.

The group also excelled in their account of Charles Villiers Stanford's Heraclitus and the six movement Songs of Farewell by Hubert H Parry conductor Neil Taylor giving a decisive lead.

Although arguably not as affecting as Elgar, the Stanford and the Parry works may remind local audiences (if they indeed really need reminding) that Elgar is by no means the only English choral music of stature.