The Primrose Hill School Choir captivated a capacity, sell-out audience at Chepstow Leisure Centre last Saturday when it made a wonderful contribution to Chepstow Male Voice Choir's Christmas concert.

The Lydney choir's participation was at short notice, due to the enforced withdrawal of The Dell school choir due to illness, but no-one would have known.

To walk into the enormous sports hall of the Leisure Centre, with nearly 600 people in it, could have been an intimidating experience for anyone let alone a group of six to ten year-olds. However, if they did feel nervous it was not obvious. Chepstow Male Voice Choir joined with them to sing, "Any Dream Will Do", which had not been rehearsed jointly. The audience asked for a second helping, and got it!

The main part of the programme contained some new pieces including, "Sweet Little Jesus Boy", which had been arranged by Brian Howard with baritone, Ray Jones singing the solo. One of the highlights was the choir's stunning performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody". This piece is very challenging for choristers; accompanist and, indeed, the conductor. Whilst not normally being associated with male voice choirs it has now come into the repertoire of a number of them.

The guest soloist at the concert was the popular, local, young soprano, Holly Holyoake.

Two evenings after the concert, Chepstow Male Voice Choir made its annual round of all the care homes in the Chepstow Area, to entertain the residents with some festive and seasonal music. This has now become a "must" for the choir, and is much appreciated by the residents and the staff.

The choir now has two weeks off before preparing for a year which will include performing in two competitions as well as a full programme of concerts, weddings and other musical events.