Singers from the Kentwood Show Choir are tuning up for their annual summer concert in Swindon.

This year the chosen charity, which will benefit from the concert, is Hearing Dogs, who change the lives of deaf adults and children across the UK.

Last year the choir netted £4,000 for Hope For Children. Around 35 adult singers and 10 juniors will be strutting their vocal chords for the 2018 summer concert, which takes place on Saturday, May 12 at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon. This will be a bitter-sweet affair for many of the choir members as Chris Harrod, the manager of the choir, has sadly died.

Chris was the husband of Sheila Harrod, the musical director and founder of Kentwood. Natalie Forty from the choir said: “The choir greatly misses Chris; not only was he our choir manager but a personal friend to a lot of us. My husband William and I have enjoyed meals with Chris and Sheila, and we also joined Chris for his jazz evening in Shrivenham, which was a wonderful experience for us both.’’

The concert opens with Show Business, Broadway Blast and Name That Tune and is followed by a mix of songs from musical theatre shows, such as Flash Bang Wallop and A Boy Like That.

The show will have some pop classics such as Say A Little Prayer and I’m A Believer and some favourite operatic numbers such as Funiculi Funicula and Time To Say Goodbye.

“We have a great programme including songs from Jesus Christ Superstar,’’ said Sheila. “There is something for everyone.’’

There are a number of soloists in the show including William Forty, Rachel Sparrow Kathy Hobson, Natalie Forty, Robert Harman and Sharon Lloyd.

The choir is accompanied by the Little Big Band led by pianist Paul Maguire, who has worked on a number of West End shows. The rest of the band are Andy Gibson on trumpet, Ian Bateman on trombone, Mark Burton on synthesiser, Gary Branch on reeds, Andy Griffiths on percussion and Tracey Absolom on bass guitar.

Curtain rises at 7.30pm at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon and tickets are £17 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison