Three Choirs Festival

A very special choir assembled in the Bishops Palace at Hereford Cathedral on 12 February 2026. The Hereford Veteran’s Choir showcased songs that members of the Veteran’s community had written in partnership with the hugely talented composer and arranger Robert Peate. Members of the Veteran’s community have been meeting since September 2025 and have been working Robert and choir leader Jo Lowry, who rehearsed, shaped and directed the performance we experienced last night. The project, funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund was about using song-writing as a vehicle for exploring and sharing lived experiences. The result was a truly moving performance of songs, spoken word and images all of which reflected our Veteran community’s experiences and reflections. There was also some audience participation under the strict supervision of the Seargent Major….

The Three Choirs Festival’s vision is for the power of choral music to enrich lives through shared, inspirational experiences. This project and the journey leading to the performance we experienced undoubtedly embodies this vision. We’d like to thank all the Veterans who took part in this project for sharing their stories so we can better understand their lived reality, and to the Veteran’s choir for literally giving voice to the project.

David Francis
CEO

Photos from the concert

credit: Joseph Wong