Contemporary themes of feminism, fundamentalism, tolerance and globalisation are explored through the lives of two great female icons, Hypatia and St Katherine of Alexandria, as part of a new musical work by local composer, Robert Peate.

Robert, who studied A Level Music at Hereford Sixth Form College before going on to study music composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music, describes the heart of his new work, Two Souls In One, as "a call to tolerance, respect and openness in the modern world."

This ambitious new composition, written for choir, four harps, and narrator, will be given its first performance on November 9th by Hereford Chamber Choir, the Royal Academy of Music Harp Ensemble, and professional actors Tim Bannerman and Liz Brailsford (narrators), ahead of its London premiere in February.

As part of the same project, Robert will be leading a free Composition Workshop on October 22nd. Using pre-recorded and live demonstrations, he will explain how he composed Two Souls in One from initial ideas through to the finished piece. The workshop is open to all, but will be of particular interest to GCSE and A Level music students, choral singers, and anyone with an interest in composition.

The workshop takes place on Tuesday, October 22nd from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Holy Trinity Church in Hereford. Entry is free but places are limited, and can be booked on the Hereford Chamber Choir website www.herefordchamberchoir.org.uk or by calling 07769 289076.