A GROUP of Malvern singers are celebrating their 10th birthday with a series of special events.

The highlight of the Hills Singers' anniversary season will be a concert at Malvern Priory at 7.30pm on Saturday, November 15.

Conductor Carol Green promises an interesting programme including part songs, madrigals, folk songs, anthems, popular songs and even African chants.

"The idea behind the programme was to perform pieces that we have sung throughout our 10 years together," she said. "It includes music from all over the world as performed by the choir since our formation."

Tickets for the performance, which is in aid of the Malvern Priory Organ Fund, are available on 01684 577033 or 01886 832647.

An evening of music and song at St Gregory's Church, Castlemorton, starts the singers' celebratory series on Saturday, October 11, at 7.30pm.

"This is quite a light programme and is part of the church's harvest festival celebrations," said Carol.

Musicians local to Castlemorton will also perform at this event. Admission is £5, to include refreshments and a glass of wine. Tickets are available from Sarah Musgrave on 01684 833869.

The Hills Singers will present a festive concert of Christmas music at Hellens, Much Marcle, on December 6, in aid of the Ledbury Poets in Residence Scheme.

Carol Green has run the singers since they started in 1993, when she found a group to perform what it thought was a one-off Christmas concert at the Bishop's Palace in Hereford in aid of Age Concern. The enthusiasm generated by the event meant the group decided to stay together and started singing regularly at music festivals, dinners, charity concerts and weddings.

Today the choir is largely Malvern based but draws members from Worcester and Cheltenham and usually performs with 16-24 voices.

Since it formed the musicians have performed over 200 pieces of music of all varieties. The singers are not short of members, but strong and experienced singers who think they might fit in should contact Carol on 01684 577033.