Christmas in Bradford!

Christmas came a few days early to Bradford yesterday with the annual 'Family Christmas Concert' at St Georges Hall, Bradford's premier venue for music and the arts. Held in conjunction with Bradford's 'Christmas in the City' event, the concert was enthusiastically received by the large audience both young and old.

The concert was hosted by the Bradford Festival Choral Society, the cities oldest and most distinguished musical group. Christmas favorites were played by the 'Virtuosi GUS Band' much to the delight of the audience who were clapping and singing away!

The Bradford Boys' and Girls' choirs combined for this concert to appear as the Bradford Youth Choir. In the first half, they joined the BFCS to sing movements from the St. Nicholas Mass by Joseph Haydn. Conducted by Christopher McElroy (BYC director) over 130 singers (with an age range of 75 years between youngest and oldest!) raised the roof with the triumphant 'Amen!' at the conclusion of the Gloria.

The second half opened with the children in the audience coming up onto the stage to sing Christmas favorites 'when santa got stuck up the chimney' and 'jingle bells.' The Youth Choir then took centres stage to perform a Gloria by Stuart Thompson (former Director of Music for the Diocese of Leeds) 'I am his child' by notable American composer/ arranger Moses Hogan. They finished with a rousing performance of 'Gaudate' complete with soloists and a full battery of percussion!