Andrew Leach leads a choral evening reflecting on the devastating impact of conflict, war and a profound desire for peace with a chance to hear one of Vaughan Williams' greatest masterpieces, Dona Nobis Pacem.

Founded in 1883, Woodbridge Choral Society continues to thrive, as a non-auditioned community choir with around 90 members. The choir performs two to three concerts every year, accompanied by orchestras and professional soloists, under the guidance of musical director Andrew Leach.

Tonight’s programme includes two passionate pleas for peace: Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem combines familiar sacred words with hard-hitting poetry by Walt Whitman.

Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace was commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum and dedicated to the victims of the Kosovo conflict. The work includes extracts from the Latin Mass, words from the Bible, poetry by Swift, Kipling and Tennyson, Hindu texts and the Islamic call to prayer.

Woodbridge Choral Society
Andrew Leach conductor

The WCS Players
Greg Eaton leader

Claire Weston soprano
Philip Smith baritone