THE St John Singers have started celebrating their 40th year in Salisbury by singing to audiences of more than 2,000 people over the Christmas and New Year period, and continuing to help raise money for charity.

The Magic of Christmas concert in St Thomas’ Church raised £1,250 for the Salisbury Trust for the Homeless.

At the end of January the choir was delighted to join with HM Band of the Royal Marines, conducted by Lt Col Nick Grace OBE, in a concert in Salisbury Cathedral which included the performance of a relatively new and challenging work composed by Adam McCabe titled Eternal Voices, commemorating those who had died in war including recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This moving piece was performed in support of the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

The choir’s next engagement will be singing Stainer’s Crucifixion in St Mary’s Church, Fordingbridge, on Good Friday, April 3 at 7pm, conducted by John Powell and accompanied by David Coram, with soloists Ian Wicks, Tenor and Richard Hooper, Bass. Admission is free with a retiring collection for church funds.

Looking further ahead, the choir will be joining the Shaftsbury Orchestra in a performance of Mozart’s ‘Mass in C minor’ with a performance in St Martin’s church, Salisbury on Saturday 4th July and in Port Regis School on Sunday, July 5, both at 7.30pm.

Recent additions to the choir include: Frances Pitt-Brooks, soprano, Maggie Guillebaud, contralto and Benedict Cole, tenor. The choir, which numbers 50 voices, is now at full strength.