FOLLOWING the huge success of its Choral Workshop at the beginning of February, North Creedy Choral Society choir is in the final stages of preparation for the performance of Handel’s Messiah at its Spring Concert on Saturday, April 5, from 7.30pm in Holy Cross Church, Crediton.

The choir members are hoping many people will want to go along to hear this celebrated choral masterpiece, featuring the iconic “Hallelujah” chorus and many other stirring arias and majestic choruses. The Messiah is one of the most beloved works in the classical repertoire.

The choir is delighted to be able to announce that we will be joined by four talented soloists for the performance:

Katie Leaver (soprano) - Katie performs with various choirs, orchestras and choral societies in and around Birmingham, performing well-known works such as Bach’s St John Passion, Haydn’s Creation and Rutter’s Requiem and regularly records for British composer Roger Jones. She is in much demand as a soloist for Gilbert and Sullivan works, performing with the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society. Katie studied Music at Manchester University specialising in 19th century opera and teaches singing at Malvern College.

Tim Mirfin (bass) - As a bass soloist, Tim has sung in all major European countries, Australia, US, Russia and the Middle East. He has a wide and varied repertoire, performing major opera roles by composers ranging from Mozart, Handel, to Verdi, Puccini and Britten in many national and international opera houses such as Hamburg Opera, Theater an der Wien, Frankfurt Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opera North, Scottish Opera as well as recitals and concerts in the Vienna Musikverein, Royal Albert Hall, the Wigmore Hall and many cathedrals. Conductors he has worked with include Sir Colin Davis, Sir John Elliot Gardiner, Sir Andrew Davis and Edward Gardner. He read Law at Cambridge, studying postgraduate singing at the Royal Academy of Music and the National Opera Studio. He is also a qualified teacher of French and German. Tim lives in rural Devon near Exeter. As well as solo work, he teaches singing, gives choral and vocal masterclasses, and lectures for the Arts Society on opera and the voice.

The North Creedy choir also has their own homegrown Crediton soloists, Jason Bomford (tenor) and Stella Stephens (soprano), who have performed in many of our recent concerts.

The choir will be accompanied by an orchestra of local musicians, led by Anna Cockroft, and the performance will be conducted by its Musical Director, Richard Stephens.

The evening promises to be an uplifting experience – especially relevant in today’s uncertain world.

There will be a drinks interval between Part I and II. Tickets, £10, are available from AE Lee’s outfitters, High Street, Crediton, (cash only), via Ticketsource, the website: www.northcreedychoral.co.uk, or on the door. Free for Under 18’s.