A TOP choral society will welcome a new chairman at the start of its new performance season.

Worcester Festival Choral Society has chosen Mark Elliston to replace Mike Selby, who has retired.

Mr Elliston, a society member for 20 years, said it was “an honour and a privilege” to take up the position.

He said: “There has never been a better time to get involved with the society either as a singer, a patron, sponsor or concert-goer particularly as we are now laying plans to celebrate our 150th anniversary coming up in 2011.”

The society will start the new season with a performance of Haydn’s Stabat Mater and Mozart’s Litaniae Lauretanae, conducted by Adrian Lucas and accompanied by Queen’s Park Sinfonia, at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday.

The ever-popular Handel’s Messiah follows again in the cathedral beginning at 7.30pm on Saturday, December 6.

For tickets call Worcester Live box office on 01905 611427.