HEREFORD Choral Society's performance of Handel's Messiah represents a big step for former cathedral chorister Sebastian Field.

For the 23-year-old counter-tenor it is his first major public performance on home turf.

His rise to success as a soloist has been rapid, taking him on several tours around Europe, and he has just returned from a two-and-a-half week trip to the USA.

Mum, Fiona, has sung with the choral society for years, off and on, and is proud to have her son on stage alongside her - though not too near...

"I stood next to him in concert at Gloucester Cathedral and he kept saying - 'sing, mother, sing!'

"My heart will be in my mouth when he starts to sing, although he has no nerves whatsoever. Singing is his life blood - he's a natural and I know everybody will love to have him there, because he was a former chorister."

Sebastian left Hereford to spend a year in Truro as choral scholar under Andrew Nethsingha - and is back working with him, now at Gloucester.

He performed as a soloist in this spring's St David's Festival and at Holy Trinity Church in Hereford last year with Hereford Sixth Form College Choir.

"I'm trying to get bookings with choral societies without going down the London College route, which I'd rather do when my voice is a bit more mature," Sebastian said. "I like living in Gloucester and am not that keen to get to a big city.

"Being a chorister is an amazing education, it sets you up for life. At 11 you're doing a professional job - it teaches you to get things done.

"I have an enormous amount of respect for Roy Massey, who I trained under, and it's nice to do something for Geraint - who was assistant organist when I was a chorister.

"I don't tend to get nervous, though I probably will be for this one - it's the highest profile thing I've done. I'll be having some extra lessons just before the concert, I don't want to get it wrong! I just want to do a really good job."

Sebastian is one of four soloists performing with Hereford Choral Society in concert on Saturday, December 10, at 7.30pm. Doors open at 6.45pm, with ticket sales on the evening of the concert at St John's Door.

Tickets in advance are available from David Plowman on 01432 274144. Children under 16 can attend free when accompanied by an adult.

The concert also features Natalie Clifton-Griffiths (soprano), Nicholas Mulroy (tenor) and James Birchall (bass) and the return of the popular Marches Baroque period orchestra.