Birmingham Bach Choir is hoping to raise a beautiful noise on February 1 by inviting people from all over the West Midlands to come and join them in performing excerpts from The Messiah.

It is holding an open rehearsal of the world’s most popular choral work at its annual Come And Sing event at Selly Oak Methodist Church, Birmingham from 2-6pm.

Written by Handel in the mid-18th century, Messiah is one of the most performed choral works in Western music, with the Hallelujah! chorus its most familiar passage.

It is so popular that more than 120 personalities have chosen it as one of their Desert Island Discs, among them Birmingham-born Martin Shaw.

At Come and Sing, the informal afternoon workshop/rehearsal will be led by conductor Paul Spicer and will explore the choruses of the piece.

As well as finding out more about the choir, which has been contributing to the musical life of the West Midlands since 1919, participants will also be able to enjoy its homemade cakes.

Tickets for the workshop cost £10 (excl sheet music) or £11 (inc sheet music hire).

For more information, including booking forms, go to www.birmingham.bachchoir.com or call 01789 763903 to reserve a place.