Singers in Richmond have been invited to join a special choral workshop on February 2, to help celebrate Jewish musical culture.

The event is also set to be led by world-famous choir director, Polina Shepherd and is also part of the Richmond's Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) which is set to be held on January 27.

Cllr Jo Humphreys, a Jewish ward councillor for Whitton, who is leading on the HMD programme, said: “Music is an integral part of Jewish culture and played an important role during the Holocaust.

"In many of the ghettos and camps that were established across Nazi-occupied Europe, prisoners played, and composed music often giving comfort and hope in what was a truly dark and desperate time.

“This workshop aims to honour Jewish music and culture, whilst paying tribute to those who lost their lives.

"The day will bring together people from inside and outside the Jewish faith to learn and perform this fascinating repertoire.”

Attendees will learn a wide range of material, ranging from sacred and secular, traditional and modern, in both Hebrew and Yiddish.

No knowledge of the languages is necessary.

Polina's choral workshops showcase her specially developed choral teaching methods which are based on specific East European sound, ornamentation and modal experimentation with attention to stylistic details, history and context.

There will also be an opportunity for singers to present a performance at the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington.

The concert will also feature Merlin Shepherd, one of the world’s leading players of traditional East European Klezmer Clarinet.