APRIL 2026 CONCERT

Berwick Arts Choir Spring Concert: Handel’s Messiah Parts 2 and 3

Berwick Arts Choir performed Parts 2 and 3 of Handel’s Messiah in Berwick Parish Church to a large and very appreciative audience, having performed Part 1 just before Christmas.

Handel wrote his Messiah in just 24 days....

“I did think I did see all Heaven before me and the great God Himself, seated on his throne, with his company of Angels.”

Accompanied by Berwick Arts Orchestra, led by Cath Cormie, and with four local soloists, the choir clearly enjoyed the opportunity to perform such a rousing, inspiring and popular piece of music.

Marion Scammell, Musical Director of the choir said,

"It was a fantastic performance! I am proud of them all - they sang beautifully and it was an absolute honour to be conducting them."

Our soloists were Soprano Maria Waszyrowska, who is currently a music teacher at Berwickshire High School; Countertenor Felix Schneideman (who lives and performs in London having completed a Choral Scholarship at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh; Tenor/baritone Michael Wood who plays in the Borders Chamber Orchestra and is Chair of the Borders Chamber Choir; and Bass Philip Blackledge, Chair of the Borders Music Festival and Chair of the Melrose Music Ensemble.

​The choir is as always very grateful to Berwick Town Council for their continuing support, and in particular their recent award of a grant towards the cost of engaging the soloists for this concert.