Rock Choir Concert Raises £1,300 for Pershore Riverside Centre

Saturday, 10 October 2026 - Pershore Abbey

Pershore Abbey was once again filled to capacity as more than 100 members of the Rock Choir brought the building’s wonderful acoustics to life in an uplifting concert of rock classics and contemporary pop favourites.

Led by conductor and mentor Jacob Ashworth, the talented choir brought together singers from across Herefordshire and South Worcestershire for a sparkling evening of musical anthems. A mixture of familiar favourites and newer songs, all expertly rehearsed and delivered with great enthusiasm, delighted the audience.

The concert was organised by Pershore Rotary to welcome the Rock Choir and its many enthusiastic supporters back to the Abbey, with all funds raised going to the Pershore Riverside Centre - a local charity providing valuable support for young people and the wider community.

The evening raised over £1,300 for the Centre.

Supporting Young People and the Local Community

The Pershore Riverside Centre provides a safe, friendly and welcoming environment where people can meet, take part in activities, develop friendships and access support when they need it.

A particularly important part of its work is the range of clubs it offers to children and young people, helping them build confidence, develop social skills and enjoy positive experiences in an inclusive setting.

These include:

• Monday Club: For young people aged 9–13, offering opportunities to socialise, make friends and enjoy activities together.
• Youthy Youth Club: For 13–17-year-olds, providing a space to meet friends, learn new skills, develop confidence and feel part of their local community.
• Saturday Social Club: A specialised weekend group for teenagers aged 15–18 with special needs, offering friendship, activities and a welcoming community environment.
• Sunday Club: An inclusive social club for children and young people aged 8–14 with special educational needs and disabilities.

Alongside its youth provision, the Centre offers facilities for a wide range of community activities, including a large hall, community room, meeting room and music room. These spaces accommodate meetings, classes, music sessions, crafts and social events.

The Centre plays an important role in strengthening the local community, helping people of all ages build relationships, develop new skills and feel supported.

Speaking during the concert interval, Riverside Centre Co-ordinator, Olena Mokrynska, explained the importance of the Centre’s work:

“Pershore’s Riverside Centre is a vital community asset, supporting around 150 young people each week. Through free youth clubs, counselling, mentoring and a wide range of activities, we help young people build confidence, develop skills and feel that they belong.

“Much of our work happens quietly, behind the scenes, but its impact can be life-changing — whether it’s helping a young person find friendship, feel safe enough to ask for help or take a positive step towards their future.

“We rely on grants, fundraising and income from hiring our facilities to sustain these essential services and every bit of community support makes a difference.”

We are delighted that the proceeds from the concert will help support this valuable work.

A Spectacular Musical Evening

The audience was treated to an evening of energetic performances, memorable melodies and powerful vocals, with the Abbey providing a magnificent setting for the choir.

After the concert, Jacob Ashworth reflected on one particularly special moment:

“I’ve been looking forward to performing Lewis Capaldi’s sensational ‘Someone You Loved’ at the Abbey ever since I started teaching it to my choirs. This song sounds great everywhere, but it sounded truly spectacular here.”

Jacob also expressed his appreciation to the Rotary Club of Pershore for hosting the event and to the Riverside Centre for the work it does in the community. Thanking his choir members, he added:

“To my wonderful Rock Choir members, thank you for tonight. This is just a taster of your achievements at Pershore Abbey this evening — there is more to come.”

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Jacob, the Rock Choir members, the Abbey’s Event Co-ordinator and his team and everyone who attended and helped make the concert such a success. Your support has raised a lot of money for a charity that makes a real difference to local young lives.

More Musical Events Coming Soon

Following the success of this concert, we look forward to welcoming audiences back to Pershore Abbey for more wonderful musical occasions.

‘Winter Warmer’ Concert - Friday, 18 December 2026

Following last year’s beautiful Candlelight Winter Warmer concert featuring Paula Evans’ Vocal High choir, Pershore Rotary has once again been invited to support this popular event at Pershore Abbey. Further details and ticket information will be announced soon.

The Gentlemen Songsters - Friday, 21 May 2027

We are also delighted to announce that The Gentlemen Songsters male voice choir will make its first appearance at Pershore Abbey. Established more than 60 years ago, the choir has over 60 members and performs regularly throughout the Black Country, presenting a wide repertoire of old and new songs in its own distinctive style.

We look forward to welcoming the choir to Pershore for what promises to be another memorable evening. Further information about this concert will be published in the new year.

The Rotary Club of Pershore is proud to bring people together through music while raising funds for organisations that make a positive difference in our community. We hope to welcome the Rock Choir and its wonderful supporters back to Pershore Abbey again soon.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this concert such a success — and to everyone who continues to support our community fundraising events.