Saturday 17th October from 3pm.
One of Cheshire’s top choirs is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the launch of its 2026/2027 season of concerts.
Chester Bach Singers new season is set to feature much-loved classical favourites alongside contemporary music, a special festive concert, the choir’s annual workshop, and a celebratory gala concert which will see the world premiere of a brand-new, specially commissioned piece of music to mark the choir’s anniversary.
The choir’s first concert, set to be staged at The Queen’s School on City Wall’s Road, Chester on Saturday 17th October from 3pm, will feature Ralph Vaughan Williams’ celebrated “The Lark Ascending” performed by the choir and guest solo violinist, Ed Pether accompanied by pianist Catherine Barnett. Conducted by the choir’s Musical Director Joseph Judge, the concert will also include Anton Bruckner’s “Locus iste” plus Will Todd’s contemporary version of the same, followed by music by BAFTA-winning composer Jessica Curry, Oliver Tarney and Sarah Quartel.
A graduate of the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music, Ed Pether has gone on to perform as guest principal Violinist in orchestras including the Hallé Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and Orchestra of Opera North, and served as guest leader of the NEW Sinfonia in north-east Wales, performing as soloist in Vivaldi Four Seasons and Piazzolla Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. He has also performed with the Zelkova Quartet, winners of the St. Martin’s Chamber Music Competition and finalists in the Royal Overseas League Music Competition. Ed particularly enjoys contemporary music and has performed with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, also taking part in a performance exchange with the Ensemble Court-Circuit in Paris.
Helen Crich, the Chair of Chester Bach Singers Said ” We are delighted to be launching our 2026/27 season of concerts and events as we mark 50 years since the choir’s formation. We look forward to welcome audiences old and new for our first concert which features Classic FM favourite The Lark Ascending when we will be joined by our special guest, Violinist Ed Pether. We are also excited to be performing at a new venue for us, The Queen’s Senior School in Chester city centre.”
Helen added “We are always looking to welcome new members and so, if you are interested in joining the choir, please do attend one of our open rehearsals on Wednesday 18th November and Wednesday 26th May, you’ll be made most welcome.”
Full details of Chester Bach Singers new season can be found at www.chesterbachsingers.org.uk where tickets can also be booked online.
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Sunday 18th October at 7pm.
STRICTLY STAR FLAVIA HEADING TO CHESTER FOR SPECTACULAR BALLROOM SHOW.
A star of TV’s Strictly Come Dancing is heading to Chester for one night only as a spectacular Ballroom themed dance show is set to hit the stage at The Hammond.
Strictly favourite Flavia Cacace, former Strictly Come Dancing Winner and Olivier Award nominated stage star will headline “Ballroom Fever” when it lands in Chester at The Hammond Theatre based at the prestigious vocational college on Sunday 18th October at 7pm.
Featuring a cast of International dancers, including British, European and World champions and finalists and former Dancing with the Stars Ireland and Turkey professionals, the show brings the best of ballroom to the stage with glitz, glamour, and high intensity routines full of ballroom magic.
Following a glittering amateur career with her dance partner Vicent Simone which included being crowned UK Ballroom Champions and Argentine Tango Champions, Flavia Cacace joined Strictly Come Dancing alongside Vincent in 2006. Flavia made the final in 2008 and won the Glitterball in 2012 with her celebrity dance partner, Olympic gymnast Louis Smith. Flavia also won the Christmas Special in 2013 with Rufus Hound and the Children in Need People’s Champion trophy with her good friend Russell Grant. Their iconic moment live at Wembley, in which Russell was fired out of a cannon during their Jive, was awarded the TV Moment of the Year at the Baftas. One of Flavia’s favourite memories during her time on Strictly was choreographing and performing routines alongside some world-famous music acts like Beyonce, Westlife, and many more.
Since leaving the show in 2013, Flavia and Vincent have taken their unique brand of dance to the theatre and subsequently toured the U.K. extensively with several dance theatre productions including three West End runs and achieving various accolades, including 2 Olivier Award nominations for family entertainment. Their farewell show “The Last Tango” embraced many different dance genres and played to packed theatres throughout the UK. Flavia’s T.V. appearances include Children In Need, The Royal Variety Performance and Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. Flavia has also starred in various theatre productions including “Jack and The Beanstalk” at the Worthing Pavilion and most recently, alongside Oti Mabuse in “Viva Carnival” for the 2025 UK Tour.
The show’s producers, Posh Pony Entertainment – professional Ballroom and Latin dancers James Wilson and Leila Stewart, have both enjoyed a glittering career in television and theatre since 2004 and a multi-award-winning competitive dance career spanning over 20 years. They have worked with Pasha Kovalev on his Strictly winning UK Tour in 2015: “Life Through Dance” and have worked on various Strictly themed Showcases at sea and UK and European tours with Raymond Gubbay Ltd such as “Simply Sinatra”, “Crazy For Gershwin” and in London’s West End starring in “An Evening with the Stars Of Strictly Come Dancing”, “West End Bares” and “Latin Fever” for Sadlers Wells.
Alongside numerous television and theatre credits, James was also a member of the original cast in the first ever theatre tour of “Strictly Come Dancing” created by Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag and hosted by Lionel Blair and Jane MacDonald which toured the UK for two years. James has been an assistant to choreographer on “Strictly Come Dancing” for three seasons and a professional dancer on two seasons of “Dancing with the Stars” Turkey partnered with Victoria’s Secret Supermodel, Adriana Lima.
In 2025, James performed with Strictly champion and Tango legend, Flavia Cacace for various one-night performances and alongside his dance partner, Leila Stewart co-created “Ballroom Fever” which made its debut in April this year starring Flavia and a cast of international dance champions. Beyond the dance floor, James can also be heard on the Monday drive time BBC Radio Merseyside show alongside Helen Jones talking all things entertainment and Strictly Come Dancing.
James, a former dance teacher at The Hammond said “We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing “Ballroom Fever” to Chester as part of our UK-wide tour. We are delighted that Strictly star Flavia Cacace will be joining us as our guest star for what will be an evening of glamour, glitz and sparkle as we take you on a dazzling journey through the very best of dance.”
Full details of “Ballroom Fever” can be found at www.tickets.thehammond.co.uk where tickets can be booked online.
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Unless otherwise stated, this page is compiled by Paul Crofts