The city of Worcester is to commemorate ‘Mayflower 400’ with a ‘World Premiere’ Gala Concert, to be performed by a 200-strong choir in the cathedral, on Saturday April 25.

Raising the rafters will be the Worcestershire Mayflower Chorus – featuring youngsters from across the region and tutored by internationally renowned choral conductor, Neil Ferris.

Joined by the English Symphony Orchestra together with hand-picked soloists, "the programme will celebrate Worcestershire’s famous Mayflower pilgrim, Edward Winslow, and the subsequent momentous ties which were formed between England and America".

Worcestershire’s famous Mayflower passenger was pilgrim Edward Winslow who became Governor of Plymouth Colony three times over, was a leading diplomat, politician and peacemaker, and is largely attributed with having established ‘Thanksgiving’.

Works to be performed will include Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man; Appalachian Spring - with dancers from Worcester’s Academy Theatre Arts; Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis; Philip Sawyers: Mayflower on The Sea of Time (World Premiere).

Performers will include April Fredrick, soprano; David Stout, baritone; English Symphony Orchestra/Kenneth Woods, conductor; Worcestershire Mayflower Chorus/Neil Ferris, conductor.

Mr Ferris said: “I am very excited about returning to Worcester to work with incredibly talented secondary school students and their dedicated teachers for what promises to be a rewarding and life-long memorable event.”

Event details and booking information: www.mayflowerconcert.co.uk