Choirboys concert at Southwell Minster is sell-out

Southwell Minster is gearing up for a spectacular concert tomorrow evening (Friday 18th November) when the Cathedral will be packed to capacity. Some 800 tickets have already been sold for the event, which will also form part of the live programming, helping raise funds for BBC's Children in Need.

The unique concert, which brings together the Cathedral choirs from Southwell and Ely, will include a Nottinghamshire debut performance for the new choir boy band - The Choirboys. The choirboy trio will also broadcast live from the Cathedral onto part of the BBC’s ‘Children in Need’ programme tomorrow night (Friday 18th November). The concert, which starts at 7.30pm will take a short break for the live broadcast at around 7.45pm, before resuming the rest of their programme.

Southwell’s own ‘choir idol’ Ben Inman, will perform with fellow band members Patrick Aspbury and CJ Porter-Thaw from Ely. The trio, whose CD will be launched on 28th November, will perform a number of songs from their new album, including the single track ‘Tears in Heaven,’ which is a version originally sung by Eric Clapton and tipped to be this year’s Christmas number one. Proceeds from the single (to be released on December 19th) will also benefit children as they will be given to the NSPCC.

The two choirs will be joined by the Britten Sinfonia Orchestra and conductors: Paul Hale, Paul Trepte, Martin Neary.

Choir master and Rector Chori at Southwell Minster, Paul Hale, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Southwell; we’re delighted about the broadcast. The concert promises to be a feast of musical entertainment, with so much talent coming together for the event. The event is a complete sell-out and we hope to raise even more funds for children through a bucket collection during the evening, which will be split between Southwell Minster Choir Association and BBC's Children in Need .”

The concert programme will include: Mozart Coronation Mass, Franck Panis Angelicus; Goodall The Lord is my Shepherd; Lloyd Webber, Pie Jesu; Handel Zadok the Priest & Hallelujah chorus; Rutter The Heavenly Aeroplane and from the Choirboys album, Danny Boy ; Tears in Heaven ; Walking in the air; He ain’t heavy ;Let there be peace on earth.

Tickets £10 (under 18s: £5) from: Becketts, Westgate, Southwell 01636 812291, Southwell Minster Shop 01636 812933.

As part of this year’s Christmas celebrations The Choirboys will be taking part in ITV’s Christmas Eve Service and Howard Goodall’s Christmas concert on Radio 2.