Leominster Choral Society’s annual Christmas concert Carols by Candlelight has become something of a fixture in the town’s calendar, many feeling that their own Christmas season has not properly started until they have taken part.

The concert opens with a hauntingly simple Advent responsory adapted from Palestrina, sung under the Priory Church’s Norman Tower, and ends with a rousing setting by Welsh composer William Mathias of the jolly medieval carol-cum-drinking song Sir Christèmas.

In between, there are carols for everyone to sing, some seasonal readings, and other choir items, including two, Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Vaughan Williams and The Three Kings by Peter Cornelius (“Three kings from Persian lands afar…”) in which baritone Jonathan Brown will be the soloist. Other highlights in the programme are The Shepherds’ Farewell by Berlioz and a setting by 16th century Tomas Luis de Victoria of O Magnum Mysterium.

Conducted by James Atherton and accompanied by Hilary Norris at the organ, the concert will be on Wednesday, December 20, starting at 7pm. Tickets, £7 (with accompanied under 16s free), available from Fletchers Newsagents in Broad Street, the Tourist Information Centre in Corn Square or from www.ticketsource.co.uk/leominster-choral-society. They will also be available on the door or from any choir member.