Come and Sing with Birmingham Bach Choir

Offering singers from across the West Midlands a rare chance to rehearse with one of the UK's leading choirs, the workshop sees the group - under the direction of celebrated conductor Paul Spicer - explore Edward Elgar's The Music Makers.

Commissioned for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival, the much-loved work is based on a poem by Arthur O'Shaughnessy.

O'Shaughnessy’s ode begins: "We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams ..." and declares artists are the makers of history and society, a sentiment Elgar, from Worcestershire, agreed with. Elgar’s completed work was originally premiered at the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival in 1912.

With their centenary celebrations looming, Birmingham Bach Choir is one of the West Midlands’ oldest and most distinguished musical groups. Regularly performing at major concert venues in the area, their repertoire spans works from the early medieval period, through Baroque, to contemporary and modern pieces.

Chair Heather Gay, who is organising the day on February 2 at Selly Oak Methodist Church, Birmingham, said: "We always look forward to our annual Come and Sing! event. It's a lovely chance to meet other singers and for them to really get their teeth into a piece of music which, in this case, has strong connections to the region.

"The afternoon will be led by Paul Spicer, who is one of the country's most respected choral leaders, and - of course - we'll also be serving tea with the choir's famed home-made cakes, which all makes for an inspiring and enjoyable afternoon."

The workshop, which concludes with an informal concert performance, takes place on February 2 at Selly Oak Methodist Church, Langleys Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, from 2pm. Tickets are £14, or £16 with music hire. Prior booking is highly recommended.

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