ONE of Winchester’s oldest choirs is set to celebrate the birthday of a renowned composer at its annual concert.

The theme of Winchester City Festival Choir’s performance is 70, in honour of John Rutter who was honoured by the Queen in 2007 with a CBE for his services to music.

The 70-strong choir will perform his work Gloria, which has delighted audiences around the world with its exuberant choral writing accompanied by organ, brass, octect and percussion.

Mr Rutter has a number of royal commissions under his belt, as had Paul Mealor, another contemporary composer whose music will feature in the concert.

His Ubi Caritas was performed at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.

A dramatic piece which tells the story of the devastation of the Asian tsunami will also feature in the programme. Chris Williams’ Tsunami Requiem got a standing ovation at the Royal Festival Hall in 2008.

The adult choir will sing the contrasting moods of the piece, followed by a lullaby which will be sung by the junior choir from The Romsey School.

The 70 theme is completed by the children’s choir singing two short pieces, Adiemus and Amate Adia, by Karl Jenkins, another 70-year-old composer.

The Festival Brass Ensemble will perform a Japanese folksong, Hamobe Nouta, by John Iveson, followed by the choir’s fourth and final song, O Lord, Support Us, by David Briggs.

Tickets cost £14, or half price for students, for the performance on January 31, at 7.30pm, at Harvey Hall in St Swithun’s School.

Book online at wcfchoir.org, or buy on the door.