Diocese of York / News & events / News

For the second year running, York Musical Society (YMS) will donate the profits from its Christmas performance to Changing Lives, a charity serving homeless people in the city (formerly York ArcLight). Last year, the choir raised over £1000 from the concert for ArcLight.

York Brass Quintet will again add to the festivities at this year’s YMS Christmas concert at 4.00 p.m. on Saturday 8 December at St. Lawrence Church, Lawrence Street, York. Seasonal favourites like ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and ’In The Bleak Midwinter’ will be played by the York-based ensemble of two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba.

The YMS chorus of over 100 singers will perform well-known choruses from Handel’s Messiah as well as Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, for which the tenor soloist will be Dominic Rose. There will also be Christmas carols old and new. They will include ‘Silent Night’, which this year marks its 200th anniversary since it was first performed in Austria. The audience will be invited to join in ‘Hark the Herald Angels’ with the choir and the brass quintet .

YMS will be conducted by Richard Shephard, while David Pipe will accompany the choir on the organ. He will also play the popular Prelude and Fugue on Tempus adest floridum by Richard Shephard and will give his now-famed rendition of ‘Sleigh Ride’.

St. Lawrence Church is York’s largest parish church, a Victorian building whose spire can be seen for miles around. The church is fully heated. Any profits from the concert, and a retiring collection, will be donated to Changing Lives.

Tea and cake will be available in the parish room after the concert, in aid of church funds.

Tickets are available through York Theatre Royal box office (tel: 01904 623568, yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or in person) or on the door on the day.

Tickets are priced £10, £5 students and children over 12, children under 12 free when accompanied by a paying adult. All seats unreserved.