MONMOUTH Choral Society was joined by members of Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra for what was billed as a Family Fun Messiah Workshop on Saturday 10th October at Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth.

The idea was to give families, particularly children, an introduction to classical choral music. Conductor Steven Kings, Monmouth Choral Society’s musical director, began by introducing the various sections of the choir and the instruments of the orchestra.

The singers and musicians went on to demonstrate the various sounds they make, and Steven Kings explained how Handel came to compose Messiah.

The emphasis was on light-hearted audience participation, including a quiz for children. The choir, with soprano soloist Jessica Martin and accompanied by members of Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra, under leader Paul Walster, presented choruses from Messiah. In a rousing finale, the audience was encouraged to join in with the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. The audience included a nine-month-old baby, who bounced on her father’s knee until the Hallelujah Chorus, when she fell sound asleep.

There will be another opportunity to hear Monmouth Choral Society singing choruses from Messiah, and to join in with the Hallelujah Chorus, at their Christmas concert at St Mary’s Priory Church, Monmouth, on Saturday 12th December.

The choir’s next concert, a Schubert programme including the Mass in Eb, is also at St Mary’s Priory Church on Saturday 14th November.

Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra will hold a children’s concert at the King Henry VIII School, Abergavenny on the 13th December.