Eternal Light – an evening of luminous choral music, consolation and hope

We present an inspiring concert showcasing three of the most acclaimed British choral works of the twenty-first century. Bringing together emotional depth, spiritual reflection, and radiant harmony, the evening features music by Cecilia McDowall, Tarik O’Regan, and Howard Goodall.  Performed just a few days after Armistice Day, this evening’s music focuses on peace, consolation in times of loss, our shared humanity and above all, hope.

Join Bradford Festival Choral Society for a moving evening of beautiful choral music, accompanied by a substantial professional string orchestra from the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, led by David Greed, former leader of the Orchestra of Opera North.
Under the baton of Thomas Leech, our chorus, featuring soloists Molly Cochrane (soprano) and Bradyn Debysingh (tenor) and orchestral musicians come together in the warm, intimate acoustic of Price Hall at Bradford Grammar School.

A special message from Howard Goodall

Ahead of our performance of Eternal Light: A Requiem, composer Howard Goodall has recorded a personal message for Bradford Festival Choral Society.

Reflecting on the extraordinary power of live choral music, the importance of singing together and our commitment to performing music by living composers, Howard shares some generous words about the Society as we celebrate our 170th anniversary.

Watch his message below, and join us on 14 November to experience Eternal Light live.

Cecilia McDowall’s Ave maris stella – Hail, star of the sea – opens our programme. Dedicated ‘to peace’ and originally written for performance on Armistice Day, it’s music full of rich harmonies and beautiful melodies, profound yet instantly accessible.

Tarik O’Regan’s Triptych, a dynamic work that masterfully fuses Western choral heritage with Eastern rhythmic influences, offering a poignant reflection on memory, grief, and hope. O’Regan – born in London and now living in San Francisco – was among the composers honoured with a commission for the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.

The concert culminates with Howard Goodall’s deeply moving Eternal Light: A Requiem. Intertwining traditional Latin texts with English poetry, Goodall crafts a contemporary requiem designed above all to comfort the living – full of lyrical elegance and profound warmth.

We’re delighted to welcome two outstanding soloists for Eternal Light on Saturday 14 November.

Molly Cochrane – Soprano

Originally from Wakefield, Molly is a London-based soprano who trained at Chetham’s School of Music and Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Her extensive concert experience includes performances with the Bach Choir, Armonico Consort and The Sixteen, with solo appearances in works including Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation and Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light: A Requiem.

Bradyn Debysingh – Tenor

Originally from Oregon, USA, and now based in London, Bradyn is an internationally acclaimed tenor whose career spans opera, musical theatre and concert performance. His recent credits include The Phantom of the Opera in London’s West End, Glyndebourne and Garsington Opera, alongside concert performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York. He has also performed with Bradford Opera and Skipton Camerata.

Join us for an unforgettable performance celebrating the vitality and expressive power of contemporary British music, accompanied by the strings of the acclaimed professional Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, together with outstanding vocal soloists and our chorus.

Our November concert returns to the warm acoustic of Price Hall — an intimate setting ideally suited to voices and strings.

The concert begins at 7.30pm and we expect to finish by 9.35pm; there will be an interval where you can catch up with friends and buy a drink at the bar.

Children and young people under 18 attend free when accompanied by an adult.

Find out more about parking, public transport and accessibility for the venue here: Price Hall, Bradford Grammar School