Come and Sing: Handel's Messiah and Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio

Spend Saturday 28th November at St Mary's Church, Shinfield, learning and performing two festive masterpieces: Handel's Messiah (Part 1 and the Hallelujah Chorus) and Saint-Saëns' rarely performed and delightful Christmas Oratorio, plus other short Advent delights (see below for the full programme). Rehearse with an award-winning conductor and an esteemed vocal coach, then bring it all together in a 6pm public concert with professional soloists. Singers of all abilities are welcome. You don't need to read music: you'll receive learning tracks for your voice part once you've completed the singer registration form. Your conductor and vocal coach The day will be run by award-winning conductor Beth Fitzpatrick, one of the country's most exciting conducting talents. Beth has recently worked at Opera Holland Park, and was Opera North's Female Conducting Trainee for the 2025/26 season. Alongside Beth, the esteemed Alison Chamberlain will provide vocal coaching. Alison has performed with some of the world's finest voices, including Dame Joan Sutherland, and was a member of the acclaimed Ambrosian Singers. She is currently vocal coach to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, working regularly with their conductors Simon Halsey and Kazuki Yamada, and trains exceptional referred Music students for the University of Birmingham. The day at a glance • When and where: Saturday 28 November at St Mary's Church, Church Lane, Shinfield RG2 9BY. Registration from 9:15am, rehearsals from 10am to 5pm (with breaks for drinks/lunch), public concert from 6pm to 8:30pm, and the bar is open until 9:30pm. • What you'll sing: Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio in full (sung in Latin) and Handel's Messiah Part 1 with the Hallelujah Chorus, plus Advent music by Kodály, Mendelssohn, Bach and Berlioz, and a Rutter encore. Everything is accompanied by organ, with a string quartet accompanying the Saint-Saëns and the Mendelssohn. • Your support: learning tracks in advance, a printed pack of music on the day, language coaching from Alison throughout the day, and Beth and Alison guiding every session. • What's included: your £30 ticket covers a £25 participation fee and a £5 music contribution, plus tea and coffee at the breaks. Homemade cakes at the afternoon break are by donation, and a licensed bar is open at the interval and after the concert. Please provide your own lunch (there is a cafe, a Lidl and Co-op, and pubs within walking distance of the church). • Optional extras: Alison is offering a limited number of 15-minute 1:1 and small-group sessions throughout the day. Sign up at registration. The cost is £15 for a 1:1 session, or split between the group, paid in cash on the day. • Dress code: all black with optional festive sparkles! Something new alongside an old favourite Handel's Messiah is a Come and Sing staple, but Saint-Saëns' Christmas Oratorio is a less well-known gem of the festive repertoire. It's a chance to sing something fresh alongside music you may already know and love. The concert The day culminates in a public concert at 6pm, accompanied by organ, and with a string quartet in the first half. The soloists are all emerging artists who have worked with Voces8, Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins and ANÚNA. Friends and family are welcome to join the audience. Tickets available here: Ready to join us? Book your singer ticket and complete the singer registration form to receive your learning tracks. Book early to ensure your space! Bring friends along: if three singers sign up and name you on their Registration Form, you'll earn a free drink at the bar (please see FAQs for further details).