DESPITE clashing with the Rugby World Cup final, and doubtless with a few local Halloween parties, nearly 100 singers from all over north Herefordshire converged on St Peter's Church, Bromyard, on October 31 for an informal "come and sing" event focusing on Handel's well-known favourite, Messiah. The event was organised by Bromyard Choral Society and conducted by Sir Richard Mynors, ably accompanied by John Jenkin on the organ.

BCS members were outnumbered by visiting singers who had responded to advertisements published over the preceding few months. A special feature of the event was the invitation for participants registering by the end of September to volunteer to sing one or more of the solo arias. All in all twelve different soloists (three from within BCS itself) took part, aged from 17 to well past 70 and most points in between. Indeed two of these kindly took on additional pieces at a couple of hours' notice as a result of illness. Judging by the enthusiasm of the audience at the end of the early evening performance, the afternoon's work on the sometimes tricky runs of notes had been well worth while, and everyone (audience and performers alike) left feeling they had enjoyed a real treat.

Welcoming the guests as the afternoon got under way, BCS chairman Chris Jarman remarked how many of those present were known to BCS members from other contexts, and expressed the hope that a number of the guests might join the society for future events. Richard Mynors underlined this message saying that Bromyard Choral Society is one of the friendliest choirs with which he has been associated. Members obviously need to be able to sing in tune, but no previous experience is required and there are no auditions or music-reading tests. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 to 9.30 in the Methodist Church Hall, New Road, Bromyard.

BCS will as usual be taking part in Bromyard's Community Carol Service at St. Peter's on December 20, but in addition will be putting on carol concerts in three local village churches on the first three Tuesdays of December. These take place at Whitbourne (December 1), Bishop's Frome (December 8) and Pencombe (December 15), all at 7.30pm.

For more details of Bromyard Choral Society and its plans and activities, and how to get in touch, see the choir's recently re-launched website bromyardchoral.org.uk.