Patrick Hawes: The Innocents (with VOCES8)

This year we are celebrating 30 wonderful seasons of Proms at St Jude’s. From our start as a small festival, we have steadily grown into a well-loved local institution featuring classical and modern music, jazz, choirs, comic nights, a literary festival and walking tours across multiple venues.

To mark this amazing achievement, and to launch the new programme for 2022, we are holding a drinks reception on the evening of Sunday 27 March, featuring a short, light-hearted performance by popular Proms at St Jude’s regulars, world-acclaimed vocal ensemble VOCES8. Additional music will be provided by Finchley Children’s Music Group. The evening will include the première of The Innocents, originally commissioned for our 2020 festival.

We’d love you to come along – all you need to do is to become a Friend of Proms by clicking on this link. Membership will also entitle you to book for our summer Festival before the general public.

Tickets are free of charge but must be booked in advance.”

The concert marks the world premiere of Proms commissioned The Innocents (music by Patrick Hawes, libretto Andrew Hawes). It commemorates the sinking of the evacuee ship SS City of Benares in 1940 and those lost at sea, including 77 children. Michael Rennie (the son of the then vicar at St Jude’s) died trying to save the children.