A NEW work celebrating the popular Severn Valley Railway will be one of the highlights of the forthcoming season by the Kidderminster Choral Society.

The piece by Geoffrey Cummings will feature school choirs and follows a grand tradition of music inspired by the railways.

In 1846 Berlioz wrote a cantata for the opening of the line between Paris and Lille.

Honegger's Pacific 231 is a thrilling evocation of a powerful steam locomotive and the Brazilian Villa-Lobos portrayed The Little Train of Caipira.

The new folk opera Severn Rides for Severn Lovers is also about the heritage and history of the region.

It will include songs and choral pieces in many styles and is already being spoken of as "a marvellous addition to the repertoire of music for young choirs."

There will be two performances in Kidderminster Town Hall on March 4 and 5, halfway through the season.

The society's conductor Geoffrey Weaver starts proceedings on October 6 with an illustrated talk on the musical treatment of War, Liberation and Thanksgiving.

He follows up on November 27 with three major works that deal with these weighty topics, Dona Nobis Pacem by Vaughan Williams, Kodaly's Psalmus Hungaricus and Dvorak's Te Deum.

For information about these and other choral society events, call 01562 60112.