Powick Community Choir

Powered by around 50 dedicated volunteers, The Worcester Street Cafe provides hot evening meals four nights a week to an average of 70 people across Worcester, including those experiencing homelessness, sofa surfing, or living in temporary accommodation. Entirely volunteer-led and funded through public generosity, the service delivers vital food and support to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. The organisation is now also seeking continued community backing as it works to secure its future at its current location amid rising financial pressures.

Powick Community Choir presented a cheque for £ 1137.37 to Peter Webber and Mandy Collins from Worcester Street Café.

For more than 40 years, MAGS has supported people experiencing homelessness across Worcestershire. Founded in 1985 following the death of John Maxwell with the support of Sammy Brown, the charity began at St Alban’s in Worcester and has since grown into a county-wide service, with a day centre in Worcester, additional support in Malvern, outreach across the county, and a clothing project that offers dignity as well as practical help. Through services ranging from housing and benefits support to job applications and use of the day centre as a fixed address, MAGS helps people take vital first steps towards stability and independence. Much of this work is made possible through community donations and fundraising, which continue to play a crucial role in sustaining life-changing support.

Powick Community Choir raised a sum of £1137.37 during 2026 from collections following their highly successful season of concerts. The cheque was presented to Erin Iredale at a recent rehearsal.

A Worcestershire composer has clinched two top prizes at a prestigious arts festival.

Tom Wells, composer in residence and musical director for both Sabrina Voices and Powick Community Choir, took home the laurels at the Worcestershire Creative Arts Festival.

The festival, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, features a broad array of competitions, spanning music, drama, and poetry.

One of Mr Wells' winning pieces, Songs for All Seasons, which premiered last year was awarded first place with honours.

Judges praised the work as an "ambitious and beautifully conceived project," highlighting its artistry and the care with which it was crafted.

Mr Wells also triumphed in the open class for instrumental compositions with his piece, Soldiers of the Great War.

This work was extolled as "an evocative and moving work, creating a sound world which is both haunting and compelling."

Beyond winning its category, the piece was marked as outstanding.

In the competition for large choirs Powick Community Choir were described as 'stylish, well-disciplined and high in audience appeal’. 

They will be performing a concert on Saturday, April 11, at St Martin’s Church on London Road in Worcester.

Requiem and Revolution will feature selections from Mozart, Rutter, Faure, and a medley from Les Miserables plus at least one piece from the competition.

Tickets can be purchased either through the choir’s website or at the door.

Link to social media post

Cheques amounting to £2,589.94 were presented during last nights rehearsal to representatives of our two selected charities for 2024. 
Collections were conducted during concerts held at St James’ Church Welland in June 2024, Powick Parish Hall in July 2024, and a series of six Christmas Concerts at Stanbrook Abbey in December 2024. 
Penny Dyer represented Alzheimer’s Research UK, while Pete Juzl represented Severn Freewheelers Emergency Blood Bike Service. 
Both representatives provided brief talks on the utilization of the funds. 
The cheques were presented by our musical director, Tom Wells, with introductions by Chairman John Tinnion.
 

Cheques for £1270.43p each were handed over last night to St Richards’ Hospice and Acorns Childrens’ Hospice by the Powick Community Choir at the Powick Community Village Hall.

The cheques were received by representatives of both charities, Sophia Gunster on behalf of the St Richards Hospice, who said “The hospice cares for adults with serious progressive illnesses, improving their quality of life from diagnosis, during treatment and to their last days. We are so grateful to groups like the Powick Community Choir for helping us to raise funds.” 

Tony Lawrence who represented The Acorns Children's Hospice said “A parent never imagines their child will be diagnosed with a life limiting or life threatening condition. But when the unimaginable happens, Acorns Children’s Hospice steps in by providing Palliative care for babies, children and young people, as well as helping families cope at every stage of their child’s life and beyond, wherever and whenever they need it.”

John Tinnion, the Chairman of the Choir said “Choirs sing for many reasons, one it’s a fantastic creative outlet and a great social activity. Two, the positive effect of choir singing on wellbeing is backed up by a number of scientific studies, revealing plenty of health benefits which have a terrific, positive effect on the body, mind and soul. But here tonight is the third; it is a joy, honour and privilege to be able to hand over these cheques; money collected from concerts by people who feel the same way as we do; to two such worthy causes.”

During the summer, when the Chapel choir is on school holidays, other choirs can apply to provide the music for services.

After a lengthy application and approval process which started back in April 2022, we were delighted to be accepted to perform.

A choir of 48 singers performed the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis composed by our own Tom Wells, responses by Charles Pavey and our anthem, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, again composed by Tom along with the Psalm of the day and a hymn.

We took at least 50 family and friends to share this special event with us.

It was very well received by both the congregation and Chapel staff, and we have already been invited to return.

It was a magical day that we will remember for a very long time, despite the continual rain!

The Evening Canticles were written by Tom Wells along with the Anthem, I will Lift up mine eyes unto the Hills.

Here is a recording of an earlier performance.