Anglicanism a surpliced choir to accompany parish services, drawing explicitly on the musical traditions of the ancient choral foundations. Over the next century, the Leeds example proved immensely popular and influential for choirs in cathedrals, parish churches and schools throughout the Anglican communion. More or less extensively adapted, this choral tradition also became the direct inspiration for robed choirs leading congregational worship in a wide range of Christian denominations. In 1719 the cathedral choirs of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester combined to establish the annual Three Choirs Festival, the precursor for the multitude of summer music festivals since. By the 20th century,
Worcester Music Festival, Massachusetts for thirteen years beginning in 1944, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra was the resident orchestra from 1958 to 1974. In 1976, the festival changed from a week-long series of performances to a season-long series. In 1996, the Worcester County Music Association merged with the International Artists Series to form Music Worcester, Inc., which has organized the festival since then, incorporating the International Artists Series and the Mass Jazz Festival into the festival. Worcester Music Festival, Massachusetts Worcester Music Festival is a classical music festival held in Worcester, Massachusetts since 1858, and it is claimed to be the oldest music festival