Solihull School’s choristers will be giving the world premiere of a new work by a leading composer in their School Chapel – with the second performance at St Paul’s Cathedral.

The 50 boys and girls of the Chamber Choir at the independent school will be singing ‘The Solihull Service’, a new Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Ben Parry, the new Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain.

The canticles will be sung, together with Elgar’s ‘The Spirit of the Lord’, during Choral Evensong in Solihull School Chapel on Sunday, March 9 at 6.30pm.

The choir will be singing both works again during Choral Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral the following day at 5pm, after making an outstanding debut in the magnificent classical building last year.

Ben Parry was commissioned to produce The Solihull Service for Solihull’s Chamber Choir - which recently sang in the Daily Service on BBC Radio 4 - through an association with the School.

He works with Oliver Walker, Solihull’s Head of Choral Music, on Eton Choral Courses, national residential summer courses for promising young singers.

Ben has conducted film soundtracks including ‘The Golden Compass’ and the ‘Harry Potter’ series, has worked with Sir Paul McCartney on a major choral work, and composed music for the BBC Proms .

Ben Parry said: “I am looking forward with great eagerness to The Solihull Service being sung by Solihull School’s Chamber Choir.”

He added: “When I came to write the set of canticles, I imagined a young girl running around in excitement, delirious with the news she has just received, as well as the sage old Simeon walking slowly from the Temple having seen the young Jesus Christ.” 

Oliver Walker said: “This is a thrilling time for Solihull School’s Chapel Choir. To be premiering a work by such a great composer as Ben Parry, and being invited back to St Paul’s Cathedral where will be singing it again, is a huge honour.”