WORCESTER Festival Choral Society has announced its programme for the new season with three concerts and a share in a fourth.

The group, under the baton of Adrian Lucas, has a distinguished history, being founded in 1861 and through its association with the composer Sir Edward Elgar.

Several members of the Elgar family were at one time members and Sir Edward led the orchestra, often conducting his own work. He also wrote two pieces for the society, The Black Knight in 1892 and From the Bavarian Highlands in 1895.

There is no Elgar on this season's programme but there are works by Handel, Bach, Vaughan Williams and Finzi.

All concerts are at Worcester Cathedral and the first is on Saturday, November 18, entitled A Concert of Baroque Splendour.

The society will be lining up with Westminster Chamber Orchestra for Handel's The King Shall Rejoice and Dettingen Te Deum and Bach's Magnificat and Jauchzet Gott.

The Westminster Chamber Orchestra will also be playing at the concert on Saturday, December 9, for Handel's Messiah.

The society then has a week before appearing as one of the main performers in the son et lumiere promoted by Cathedral Arts on December 15-16.

There will then be a break until March 24, when the English Chamber Orchestra join them for a programme which includes Finzi's For St Cecilia and Dies Natalis and Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem.

Tickets range from £3.50 to £16.50 and are available from Worcester Tourist Information Centre on 01905 726311, the Cathedral gift shop or WFCS ticket secretary on 01905 640845.