J S BACH
B Minor Mass
Saturday 7th November
Cheltenham Town Hall
G F Handel
Messiah
Monday 21st December
Cheltenham Town Hall
Karl Jenkins
The Armed Man
Joseph Haydn
Mass in Time of War (Missa in tempore belli)
Monday 21st December
Cheltenham Town Hall
2026 - 2027
Concert Season
2026
2027
Karl JENKINS
Armed Man A Mass for Peace
Joseph HAYDN
Mass in Time of War
Sat 6th March 2027
Cheltenham Town Hall
J S Bach
B minor Mass
Cheltenham Town Hall,
Saturday 7th November 2026
B Minor Mass
Cheltenham Town Hall
Sat 7th November
7.30pm
Cheltenham Bach Choir
David Crown musical director
Musical and Amicable Society orchestra
Hannah Davey soprano
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones mezzo soprano
Sebastian Hill tenor
Felix Kemp baritone
Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in B minor (BWV 232) has been described as one of the supreme achievements in classical music history. Completed in 1749, just a year before his death, it has been described as a "summation" of his life's work, incorporating every musical style and technique he mastered throughout his life.
While named for its opening key, much of the work is in D major, which was used widely in the Baroque period for trumpets and triumphant celebration.
It is thought that the first complete performance of the B Minor Mass wasn't publicly performed until 1859, over a century after Bach died.
Bach B Minor Mass
BUY TICKETS
£25 Adults
£5 Students and 18 years and under
Tickets may be purchased directly from the choir. Please send your request to: tickets@cheltbachchoir.com
Hannah Davey
Soprano
Hannah studied with Christine Cairns at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where she gained a first class honours degree and won prizes including the St Claire Barfield Prize for Operatic Distinction and the Bromsgrove International Young Musician’s Platform. Read more...
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones
Mezzo Soprano
Rebecca studied at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she was awarded the Independent Opera Scholarship, The WCOM Allcard Award, The MBF Sybil Tutton Award, became a Samling Artist and graduated with distinction.
Sebastian Hill
Tenor
Sebastian is currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is a graduate of Magdalen College, Oxford. He was an Opera Holland Park Young Artist 2025 and a member of the Glyndebourne Chorus.
Felix Kemp
Baritone
British baritone Felix Kemp is a former Britten Pears Young Artist, Momentum Emerging Artist, finalist at the 2021 London Handel International Singing Competition, and in the 2022/23 season made his debut at the Royal Ballet & Opera in Don Carlo.
G F Handel
Messiah
Cheltenham Town Hall,
Monday 21st December 2026
MESSIAH
Christmas Concert
Monday 21st December
7.30pm
Cheltenham Bach Choir
David Crown musical director
Musical and Amicable Society orchestra
Carys Davies soprano
Jean-Max Latteman counter-tenor
Jay Broadhurst tenor
Felix Kemp baritone
Join the Cheltenham Bach Choir for what promises to be a memorable and moving performance of Handel’s incredible and justifiably popular oratorio, the ‘Messiah’. With an international line up of fabulous soloists including Carys Davies, soprano; Jean-Max Latteman, counter-tenor; Jay Broadhurst, tenor and James Atkinson, baritone, one of the country’s top choirs, and the wonderful Musical and Amicable Society, this promises to be a not-to-be-missed event. Please join us for an evening that will lift you into the spirit of Christmas. Early booking recommended.
Why stand for the Hallelujah chorus?
There is a tradition amongst British concert-goers to rise and remain standing for the Hallelujah chorus. Apparently George II attended the London premiere in 1743 and it is believed that he was so moved by the majesty of the music that he stood up, and royal etiquette required the rest of the audience to follow. A practice widely honoured by audiences today.
Messiah
BUY TICKETS
£25 Adults
£5 Students and 18 years and under
Tickets may be purchased directly from the choir. Please send your request to: tickets@cheltbachchoir.com
Carys Davies
Soprano
Photo | Olivia da Costa
Carys is a Welsh classical soprano who made her professional operatic debut with the Welsh National Opera. She is a scholarship graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, she has performed in notable productions and actively showcases her work on her Instagram page.
Jean-Max Latteman
Counter-tenor
Jean-Max is a critically acclaimed German-British countertenor who performs on both opera and concert stages across Europe. He is highly regarded for his flexible falsetto and smooth lyrical tone.
Jay Broadhurst
Tenor
Jay is a lyric tenor who is making quite a mark on the British opera scene. Praised by Opera Magazine for his "lean, polished tenor", Jay is widely regarded as having an extremely exceptional talent.
James Atkinson
Baritone
James is a highly acclaimed, rising British baritone singer known for his rich, dark vocal timbre. A graduate of the Royal College of Music Opera Studio and was named a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist (2023–2025)
Karl JENKINS
Armed Man - A Mass for Peace
Joseph HAYDN
Missa in Tempore Belli aka Paukenmesse
Mass in Time of War
Cheltenham Town Hall,
Saturday 6th March 2027
Karl Jenkins Armed Man
A Mass For Peace
Joseph Haydn Mass in Time of War
Missa in Tempore Belli
Cheltenham Bach Choir
David Crown musical director
Regency Sinfonia orchestra
Rebecca Hardwick soprano
Emma Roberts mezzo soprano
Alex Aldren tenor
Peter Edge baritone
More information about this concert will be available soon.
BUY TICKETS
£25 Adults
£5 Students and 18 years and under
Tickets may be purchased directly from the choir. Please send your request to: tickets@cheltbachchoir.com
Rebecca Hardwick
Soprano
Photo | Ben Reason
Rebecca is known for her international performances across opera, concert, oratorio, and contemporary music. The Spectator praised her for her "bright, tingling" voice. She graduated (BA Music) from the University of York before moving to study at the Royal College of Music. From there Rebecca completed the Opera Works training course at the English National Opera. rebeccahardwicksoprano.com
Emma Roberts
Mezzo soprano
Emma Roberts is a highly acclaimed mezzo-soprano and opera singer. She is best known for her celebrated performances on international stages, including the Wigmore Hall and her participation in prestigious programs such as the Samling Institute for Young Artists. emmarobertsmezzosoprano.com
Alex Aldren
Tenor
Alex left full-time medicine to train at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music Opera School, graduating in July 2019.
More to follow...
Peter Edge
Baritone
Originally from Shropshire, Peter graduated from the Royal College of Music, London, as a Master of Music in Vocal Performance (Distinction). He has performed with some of the world's best choirs and opera companies,
Cheltenham Bach Choir
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Cheltenham Bach Choir is an Equal Opportunities organisation
