PROFESSIONAL musicians who played at the Coronation of King Charles III will take part in a concert dedicated to the memory of a Romsey man.

Monteverdi String Band and Romsey Choral Society (RCS) will perform J.S. Bach’s St John Passion on Saturday, March 23 at Romsey Chapel.

The concert is dedicated to the memory of David St John, a former member of RCS, with Bach’s St John Passion being one of his favourite works.

Hampshire Chronicle: The Monteverdi String Band The Monteverdi String Band (Image: Contributed)

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David St John began and ended his life in Hampshire, latterly living in King’s Somborne, but in between explored large parts of the world.

He was born in Portsmouth and went to Portsmouth Grammar School, where he acquired his passion for singing as well as a love of sailing.

Following a chemistry degree at Bristol University he went into the oil industry and began his globetrotting. First to the Netherlands and then, on the production side, to New Zealand, Brunei, Nigeria, Nicaragua, India, Scotland, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan.

Throughout his life he would always try to join the local choir.

David had five children, two from his first marriage to Nelly in the Netherlands, two stepchildren through his second marriage to Elizabeth, also from Portsmouth, and their own daughter. There are 12 grandchildren.

Hampshire Chronicle: Romsey Choral SocietyRomsey Choral Society (Image: Romsey Choral Society)

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Bach's oratorio for four-part choir, six soloists and orchestra was first heard 300 years ago in Leipzig, Germany and is known for its beauty, urgency and drama in conveying the Passion story through music and song.

The St John Passion concert will take place on Saturday March 23 at Romsey Abbey. Performed by the RCS and the Monteverdi String Band, it will be conducted by Richard Pearce.

The concert will start at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) and tickets are priced at £20/£12 (half price for students and under 16s). Tickets are available online via ticketsource.co.uk/musicinromsey, from the Romsey Visitor Information Centre or on the door.