Five budding young stars of the classical music world are set to join one of Chester’s leading music societies for a special concert which celebrates music written for Coronations and other State occasions.

Entitled “Crowning Glory”, the concert will take place in the historic surroundings of Chester Cathedral on Saturday 18 May at 7.30pm. 

Featuring Chester Music Society Choir and Liverpool Sinfonia under the musical direction of Graham Jordan Ellis, the concert will include performances by Mezzo Soprano Sophie Clarke, Soprano Jess Hopkins, Tenor Liam Forrest, Baritone Ishay Ravina and horn player David Tillotson who are all graduates of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

The concert will include a joyous celebration of the first anniversary of King Charles’s Coronation with a performance of Handel’s Coronation Anthems, Zadok the Priest being the best known and most popular of all four Anthems, having been performed at every coronation since 1727. 

In addition to Handel’s Coronation Anthems, the evening will feature a performance of Mozart’s Coronation Mass which was completed on 23 March 1779 and written for the annual service at Plain, near Salzburg, a place of pilgrimage for many. Its image of the Virgin was supposed to have been miraculously crowned, hence the name Coronation attached to it. The concert will also include Mozart’s Fourth Horn Concerto. Scored for two oboes, two horns and strings, the concerto is fresh, lively and well adapted to the instrument, fully exploiting the capabilities of the natural horn. Technically demanding, the concerto remains a firm favourite in the classical repertoire.

Speaking about the Concert, John Ferrari, Chairman of Chester Music Society said “We are delighted to bring our 2024 season of concerts to a close with this special celebration of the music of Coronation. The choir and orchestra, conducted by Graham Jordan Ellis, will be joined on this occasion by five young alumni of the Royal Northern College of Music who are just beginning their professional careers and are well worthy of support from the good people of Chester. We look forward to welcoming our audience to this celebratory evening.”

Full details of “Crowning Glory” can be found at www.chestermusicsociety.org.uk where tickets ranging from £15 -£30 can be booked online. Alternatively, contact the box office on 01244 500959. Tickets can also be purchased in person at Chester Cathedral.