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.
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.

Join us for an unforgettable performance celebrating the vitality and expressive power of contemporary British music, accompanied by the strings of Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, together with outstanding vocal soloists and our chorus of 130 voices.

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.

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