THE Elgar Choral Festival has been scrapped due to escalating costs and a lack of interest.

The organising committee, working on behalf of the Elgar Foundation, has discontinued the festivals, starting with the one scheduled for October 2003.

The festival was first held in 1988 and continued on a triennial basis until 2000. The five events attracted some of the finest competition choirs from all over the country.

The purpose of the festival was to draw attention to the vast repertoire of Elgar's choral music, as well as continuing the British tradition of amateur choral singing.

Each event brought hundreds of competitors and their supporters to the city, and there have been some spectacular final concerts.

Escalating costs

The committee members decided to bring the festival to an end in the light of the escalating costs. They also felt there was less interest in the event, possibly because of the more "glamorous" media-based competitions which are now favoured by choirs with an interest in competitive singing.

In an attempt to continue promoting Elgar's music in his home city, the Elgar Foundation is now trying to plan a major festival in Worcester Cathedral and other venues in June, 2007, to mark the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth. Full details will be announced early next year.