THE first concert in the new Worcester Festival Choral Society season is being held on Saturday, November 18, at the city's Cathedral.

Cathedral organist Adrian Lucas will conduct the concert, featuring Westminster Chamber Orchestra, and the soloists include Worcester singers Stephen Shellard and Ian Bell.

Mr Shellard is an Alto Lay Clerk in the Cathedral Choir and founded the Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir in 1998. Mr Bell, who sings in the Cathedral Choir, lives in Worcester and teaches in Oxfordshire. He has previously sung with Malvern Festival and Droitwich choral societies.

Although Handel's Water Music might better suit the current situation, the programme includes two different examples of the composer's works, The King Shall Rejoice and Dettingen Te Deum.

The former, together with the better known Zadok the Priest, was written for the coronation of King George II in 1727.

The German composer had been a favourite of the new King's father, who had made him composer of music for His Majesty's Chapel Royal.

Handel was by no means the favourite to compose the music for the lavish coronation, although his decision to become a naturalised British subject apparently helped.

The programme also includes two works by Bach, Magnificat and Jauchzet Gott.

Tickets for the concert range from £3.50 to £16.50 from Worcester Tourist Information Centre on 01905 726311 or the ticket secretary on 01905 640845.

Westminster Chamber Orchestra also feature in the second concert in the season, a performance of Handel's Messiah at the Cathedral on Saturday, December 9.

7 Soloist Ian Bell.