THE 2025/26 season of singing is set to get underway for the Wellington Choral Society as they prepare to perform later this month.

The choir will have their first performance of the season take place at St John the Baptist Church on Saturday, November 29, at 7pm.

They will be singing Handel's Messiah Part one and Britten's St Nicolas, with each composition being something that the society feels is suited to the festive season.

Wellington Choral Society will be performing these works with orchestra and soloists under the baton of their musical director Laurence Blyth.

Part one of Messiah tells the Christmas story and many of the choruses are well known and well loved.

The choir have said that they are delighted to be singing the Messiah again, something they have not done for a number of years.

St Nicolas covers the legendary life of Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, Lycia, in a dramatic sequence of events.

Britten wrote the work for amateur musicians for the centenary of Lancing College in Sussex, It includes four boy singers three of whom play the pickled boys who come back to life.

Michael Graham Director of Chapel Music at the University of Exeter will take the role of St Nicolas as the Tenor soloist.

St Nicolas also includes two congregational hymns. As a result, the choir hope that the audience will be keen to join with in with singing these alongside them.

This performance follows what had been a successful 2024/25 season, where the choir had performed songs from the likes of Mozart, Handel and Mendelssohn.

Wellington Choral Society was founded in 1940, although its roots can be traced back to the 19th century, and currently has around 80 members.

Rehearsals for this performance have been taking place since Wednesday, September 3.