THE Wessex Male Choir has brought home three trophies on the final day of the Mid-Somerset Festival in Bath, including the Arthur Trowbridge Cup for best male choir.

The choir sang six pieces from their current repertoire including Memory from Cats, an arrangement of the Chumbawamba hit, El Fusilado, the rousing Welsh hymn Laudamus and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ rumbustious Drinking Song from the opera Sir John in Love.

The choir was awarded an outstanding for its entry in the Sacred Music class, the adjudicator remarking on its “excellent tuning and really effective dynamic treatment” and saying that “phrasing was excellent. Very atmospheric and emotive.”

The choir’s proud musical director, Rhiannon Williams, said: "This was the culmination of months of hard work by the choir. It was just reward for the choir’s hard work to win every class we entered. It was also great to see some of our new members competing for the first time."

The choir has its usual packed programme for the year ahead including hosting a free men’s singing workshop on Saturday, April 28, with the acclaimed choral director Mark Burstow. There’s more information about the event, plus details of how to book, on the choir’s website at www.wessexmalechoir.uk.

The Wessex Male Choir will also be recording a brand new CD in June, featuring all of their winning songs from the Mid-Somerset Festival and many more besides. The choir’s commercial manager, Guy Edwards, said that the choir was still looking for a local sponsor who was willing to help with the cost of producing the CD. Any local company wanting to find out more should contact Guy at wessexmalechoir@gmail.com.

The choir is as always keen to welcome new talent. For more information contact membership secretary, Nick Brown on 01367 253256 or 07956 270354. The choir rehearses every Tuesday from 7:30pm at the Church of Christ the Servant, Elstree Way, Abbey Meads.