A rainbow choir for a rainbow nation is how Archbishop Desmond Tutu has named the combined multi-ethnic choir that will perform Karl Jenkins' choral work, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, in Cape Town's City Hall, later this month.

This has been the culmination of more than two years of hard planning for Salisbury Community Choir and certainly the largest project it has ever undertaken.

More than 100 members of the choir, 50 members of their families, and, of course, their musical director Fiona Clarke will set off from Salisbury next Saturday to start the two-week tour. During their stay in South Africa, the choir will perform seven concerts in total, including one in St George's Cathedral as well as in two townships. They will be joined by three South African choirs and the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra for the performance of The Armed Man in the City Hall.

"This has been a massive project," says Fiona, "but worth every bit of the effort. "We hope some real friendships will be formed between the people from Salisbury and those who live in the Cape area. It is an opportunity to take our passion for singing to a country where singing is part of the culture, a life-changing experience for us all," she adds.

nSalisbury Community Choir recently performed at a charity concert at Salisbury's Blackledge Theatre. Richard Seal writes: "Since singing is so good a thing, I wish all men would learn to sing. The community choir gave us a shining example of this in a highly colourful concert, raising £600 for Salisbury-based charity, Childrens' Chance. The choir is about to leave on a Rainbow tour of South Africa and so the bulk of the programme was African in flavour.

"Under their inspired conductor, Fiona Clarke, the choir gave us an object lesson in communication. Most of the music was sung from memory and with such obvious enjoyment, there was never a dull moment. The singers wore colourful clothing in keeping with their bright, open sounds and clear diction, which will endear them to their African audiences.

"Here was commitment, infectious enthusiasm and fun in spades. We wish them well for their tour."