A WEALTH of musical tributes are being lined up for Worcester's most celebrated son by the choir that is named after him.

Next year sees the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Edward Elgar and the city's Elgar Chorale has lined up performances of some his best known works as part of its 2006/7 season, including appearances by Julian Lloyd-Webber and the impressive Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

It will be an exciting year for the choir, which also sees it make its debut at the Worcester church where Sir Edward was organist, as well as performing further afield with concerts in Leeds, Bromsgrove and Liverpool.

Another highlight will be teaming up with the St George's Singers of Cape Town for a concert in Worcester. The choir also hopes to make a return visit to South Africa.

The season begins on October 28, with the chorale performing some of France's most popular choral music, such as Durufle's Requiem and Faure's Cantique de Jean Racine, before the evening comes to a rousing send-off with Widor's Toccata, played by Tewkesbury Abbey organist Carlton Etherington.

On March 10, the chorale will perform in St George's Roman Catholic Church, where Elgar served his apprenticeship as assistant to his father and then as organist. The event will feature his music from this time, plus those by his English contemporaries such as Parry, Stanford and Holst.

The St George's Singers join the chorale in the same venue on May 31, to perform some of Elgar's early secular and sacred compositions, while June 1 sees the RLPO join the choir in Worcester Cath edral for a programme of Worcester works.

The following evening, also in the cathedral, Julian Lloyd Webber will perform the Cello Concerto while massed choirs and the RLPO perform the Enigma Variations and the Coronation Ode.

Away from Worcester, the choir will be singing works by Mozart and Vivaldi in Malvern Priory on December 2, and traditional Christmas music in St Andrew's Church, Ombersley, on December 20.

On March 3 the singers will head for Leeds Parish Church, where director Dr Donald Hunt conducted for 17 years, for more Elgar anniversary celebrations.

These continue at the Bromsgrove Festival, April 27, where Guy Johnston will perform the Cello Concerto and the Chorale The Music Makers.

On May 26, the choir teams up with the RLPO and the Liverpool Philharmonic Chorus to perform The Dream of Gerontius in Liverpool.

Tickets for all concerts from Huntingdon Arts box office, CrownGate, Worcester, or call 01905 611427.