SINGERS are set to raise the roof, as well as funds, at a benefit concert at Worcester Cathedral.
Worcester Festival Choral Society is putting on its annual performance of Handel’s Messiah in a bid to help change young lives across the county.
One hundred and fifty singers and musicians will take part this December in a candlelit performance of Handel’s choral masterpiece to support Worcestershire Community Foundation (WCF) – a charity that runs projects to support the education, health and well-being of children and young people.
The idea to raise funds through the power of music came from George Frideric Handel himself. When the composer conducted the first charitable performance of his Messiah in Dublin in 1742, little did he know that it would inspire the building of the world’s first purpose-built maternity hospital – still in operation today – and the completion of the Foundling Hospital in London, where Handel would oversee the musical education of the children in its care.
Anne Renshaw from Worcester Festival Choral Society said: “Everyone loves Handel’s Messiah, but few people know it has been doing good in society for nearly 300 years. It’s an amazing story of radical social change, medical care and innovation that we’ll be sharing as we seek to continue Handel’s charitable legacy here in Worcestershire.”
Chair of the Worcestershire Community Foundation, Jonathan Chenevix-Trench, added: “Worcestershire Community Foundation is delighted to be partnering with Worcester Festival Choral Society in this initiative. To be their charity partner for such a wonderful event is a great honour for us, and we look forward very much to working with their team.”
Visit www.wfcs.online for more details.
