COLCHESTER Chamber Choir, one of the leading a capella choirs in East Anglia, is offering a unique opportunity for young singers in the area.

More than 15 young people have benefited from singing in the choir over the past few years – gaining choral scholarships, winning festivals, and gaining places at prestigious universities – and the choir is extending the scheme so that even more young singers can benefit.

The Colchester Chamber Choir was set up by Roderick Earle in 2010.

He was a principal baritone with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for 21 years, and has sung in opera and concerts all over the world.

Roderick says: "Being part of our choir offers something really special because we work in a professional way which gives young people a unique opportunity to develop as singers and musicians. They get one-to-one mentoring from an experienced singer, financial support such as free music, reduced fees and travel grants, the opportunity to sing solos if appropriate, and the all-important annual testimonial of achievements to use on their CV."

As part of the rehearsal process, choir members receive expert vocal tuition from Roderick, who is now a professor of singing at the Royal College of Music and a tutor at Trinity College Cambridge.

Daniel Ruiz, 19, adds: "Joining Colchester Chamber Choir was the best decision since I started as a student at Essex University. The approach is extremely professional, the repertoire is varied and demanding, and the choir director is an absolute expert who always succeeds at making us sing as well as we can."

Anyone interested in finding out more is invited to a free Open Rehearsal on Tuesday June 7 at St Leonard’s Church Hall, Lexden Road, Colchester, at 7.30pm, when they can chat informally to choir members and the choir’s director.

The choir is rehearsing for two forthcoming recitals of songs about the animal kingdom entitled A Musical Bestiary, on Sunday June 19 at The Beth Chatto Gardens and Saturday June 25 at Layer Marney Tower.

Tickets priced £18 or £5 for full time students are available from the group's website at www.colchesterchamberchoir.org

For more information about Choral Apprenticeships and the Open Rehearsal please also go on-line or email info@colchesterchamberchoir.org