On 28 December 1876, 200 vocalists and instrumentalists gathered at York's Festival Concert Room for the Society's inaugural "First Grand Concert" — a performance of Handel's Messiah. York Musical Society has been singing without interruption ever since.

This December, 150 years on, we come full circle. As the closing concert of our anniversary season, YMS returns to the work that started it all, performing Messiah at St Lawrence Parish Church.

From the quiet expectation of "Comfort ye" through to the full-throated "Hallelujah" chorus, Messiah moves between intimacy and grandeur like nothing else in the choral repertoire. We'll be joined by soprano Juliet Montgomery, mezzo-soprano Georgia Mae Ellis, tenor Jason Darnell, and bass Jonty Ward, with Shaun Turnbull on organ, accompanied by strings, under the direction of David Pipe.

It's a fitting way to mark a century and a half of choral singing in York — and the perfect way to start the Christmas season. Join us on Saturday 12 December.

Tickets coming soon!

If you'd like to read more about YMS's history, our anniversary book 150 Years of Choral Singing is available to order here.