A MALVERN chamber choir will be performing a special concert as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in the town.

The concert by Severn Voices will be part of the town’s Civic Week and will include music related to the life of the Queen and familiar pieces from her coronation.

It is taking place in St James’s Church, West Malvern, at 7.30pm on Friday, June 8.

Musical director William Coleman said: “I hope that this is going to be one of the focal events of the jubilee celebrations in the area.

“The programme has plenty of contrast, with a reflective first half before the more ceremonial music of the second part. The idea of the first half is to perform a selection of more intimate music which relates to the life of the nation or which has been used in previous Coronations, music which is connected with local area and pieces that reflect on the life of the Queen.”

He added: “After the interval the music will be drawn entirely from the Coronation order of service and will include the majestic I was Glad by Parry and, of course, Handel's legendary Zadok the Priest.”

Mr Coleman is on the lookout for experienced singers to bolster the choir’s ranks for the second part of the performance.

“As a chamber choir numbering around 25 singers we are looking for a few more to take the numbers up to around 40 to provide the right forces for this music,” he added.

The augmented choir will also be singing at Pershore Abbey’s service of thanksgiving on June 3 and at Highnam in Gloucestershire on June 17.

Weekly rehearsals are on Mondays at 7.30pm at the Beauchamp Community in Newland and anyone keen to get involved should e-mail w i l l i a m . c o l e m a n - bar@virgin.net.