Ex Cathedra, St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury - review

An unscientific exit poll caught discreetly delivered comments such as: "magic", "brilliant", "sheer genius" and "they never disappoint".

There was a capacity audience at St Chad's Church in Shrewsbury for this annual event. Jeffrey Skidmore, the founder and musical director of Ex Cathedra, deftly assembles a finely balanced evening of music and readings – something old, something new. There are carols known and loved, others of more recent provenance by composers such as Roderick Williams and Sally Beamish. A traditional Polish carol shared the billing with Holst's 'In the Bleak Midwinter'.

The readings were equally varied: 'Music Opens Hearts' by the 13th century Persian poet and mystic Rumi, 'Blow, blow thou winter wind' from As You Like It and a passage from St Luke's gospel were delivered and received with the appropriate dignity. On the other hand, 'Deep in the Dales' by Gervase Phinn prompted uninhibited laughter – a wicked caricature of every primary school teacher's worst nightmare for the annual nativity play.

Ex Cathedra's concerts are awe-inspiring, their tonal control, perfect pitch and timing are at the service of music making which is always presented in an emotionally appropriate way.

The list of titles is too long for individual mention save for JS Bach's: 'How shall I fitly meet thee?' written by the greatest genius of western music, Ex Cathedra's singing of this sublime music was beyond criticism.

That exit poll was right. Kate Hogwood and Shropshire Music Trust deserve our thanks for this annual delight and for fine music throughout the year.