Next Concert

Saturday 21^st March 2026 – 7.45pm at St Swithun’s Church, Yateley

Light and Shadows

All of us live with moments of brightness and moments of shadow — times when we feel held and hopeful, and others when we search for reassurance or meaning. Our Light and Shadows concert brings together five beautiful choral works that speak to this shared human experience, offering comfort, reflection and, ultimately, hope.

Wesley’s Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace has long been chosen for national services and memorials, not because of its grandeur, but because its gentle harmonies feel like a hand placed quietly on the shoulder. Rheinberger’s Stabat Mater, written in the late 19^th century, gives voice to the kind of sorrow and compassion that crosses centuries — music that acknowledges our shadows while reminding us we are not alone in them.

From there, the light gradually opens. Ola Gjeilo’s The ground is warm and cinematic, written to evoke the feeling of being supported and steadied when life becomes overwhelming. Will Todd’s The call of wisdom, composed for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, invites us to listen for guidance in uncertain times — its glowing chords suggesting the kind of clarity that arrives just when we need it.

The programme culminates in John Rutter’s profoundly moving Requiem, a work that tenderly balances grief with quiet assurance. Inspired by the English choral tradition and shaped by Rutter’s own search for comfort after personal loss, the Requiem moves from solemn pleading to radiant optimism, reminding us that light can break through even the darkest places.

Join us for an evening of music that reflects the struggles, questions, and hopes we all share — and illuminates the beauty that can emerge from both light and shadow.

Admission £17 in advance from Yateley Town Council, St Swithun’s Parish Office and Discoveries or online at www.ticketebo.co.uk/ycs/light-and-shadows

Admission on the door will be £20, Students £5 and free for accompanied children under 16.