Hosted by St Peter’s Singers, the annual Come and Sing workshop invites singers of all experience levels to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the choir’s 40 core members. Together, participants will spend the afternoon learning the repertoire, sharing refreshments, and preparing for an informal early-evening concert for friends, family, and music lovers.
A Powerful Musical Pairing: Conflict & Peace
The program bridges centuries of choral tradition by pairing movements from Josef Haydn’s Nelson Mass with Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. Though composed over two centuries apart, both works share a deep thematic resonance rooted in times of conflict and the collective desire for peace:
Haydn’s Nelson Mass (1798): Composed while Austria faced the imminent threat of Napoleonic invasion, Haydn’s score captures both the tension and resilience of its era. A driving military rhythm builds dramatically as the Benedictus reaches its climax, channeling national anxiety into a triumphant plea for deliverance.
Jenkins’ The Armed Man (2000): Commissioned to mark the opening of the Royal Armouries in Leeds—where the choir of Leeds Parish Church originally performed the Agnus Dei at the opening ceremony—Jenkins’ modern classic reflects on the tragedy of war following the Kosovan conflict of the late 1990s.
Event Leadership & Accompaniment
The event will be conducted by Alex Woodrow, Director of Music at Leeds Minster and Conductor of St Peter’s Singers. Accompaniment will be provided on the Minster’s magnificent organ by Shaun Turnbull, Assistant Organist at Leeds Minster.
Event Schedule
1:00 PM: Registration opens at Leeds Minster
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Rehearsals & afternoon tea breaks
5:00 PM – 6:15 PM: Public performance (Free to attend for listeners)
Preparatory Workshops & Resources
If you’re hesitant about sight-reading or want to get a head start on the music, St Peter’s Singers are hosting preparatory rehearsals on the two preceding Wednesday evenings. Digital learning tracks and practice resources are also available on the choir’s website to help singers prepare at home.
Whether you join in the ranks of the massed choir or take a seat in the audience at 5:00 PM to experience the grandeur of 200 voices filling the Minster, all are welcome.
Advance booking is essential - booking closes on 18 November at 6pm. Visit stpeters-singers.org.uk.
