> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Review: The John Rutter Ensemble at The Hub at St Mary’s
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/review-the-john-rutter-ensemble-at-the-hub-at-st-marys/
- Published: 2025-12-23T06:45:48.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-23T06:45:59.000Z
- Description: A near capacity audience were in attendance when local music group The John Rutter Ensemble played at The Hub at St Mary’s.
- Author: Ben Macnair
- Tags: Reviews, What's On, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:45

A NEAR capacity audience were in attendance when local music group The John Rutter Ensemble played at The Hub at St Mary’s.

With six singers, a pianist, a trumpet and flute player, they tackled the complex, harmonically challenging hymns, festive music and songs of one of the country’s leading choral writers.

Led by local singer Lydia Rae, who is also a jazz singer and songwriter, the choral sound of the music came across during the many acapella moments, with the six vocalists all adding to the sound as vibrant bass voices and tenors provided depth to the songs, which were often at a slower tempo.

The piano playing was detailed, but always sympathetic to the moment, and the flutes and trumpet added colour, both individually and in melodic unison passages.

With some instantly recognisably arrangements, such as All Things Bright and Beautiful and Pie Jesu there was also time for a number of carols during the second half, with Angel’s Carol, Shepherd’s Pipe Carol and Sans Day Carol all being particularly well performed.