PENARTH Choir hit the right note after it raised more than £1,400 for three local charities during its annual concert earlier this month

The concert, held at All Saints Parish Hall, raised a total of £1,144.75 with donations still coming in.

Clare Gardener, who set up Penarth Choir two years ago with the first few rehearsals held in her living room, said: “Since forming we have raised around £4,000 for various charities. The concert contribution this year will be split between Rainbow of Hope, Hope for Evie and Better Life Campaign (Llandough Hospital Cystic Fybrosis) as I wanted to support local charities this year.”

She added that she originally set up the choir, which meets every Monday evening to rehearse at Stanwell Road Baptist Church, so that Penarth had a choir that was accessible to all.

“As a peripatetic singing teacher I was often asked where the local choir was,” she said.

“It was then that I realised Penarth was surprisingly lacking one that was accessible to all.

“I took the plunge to start the choir with the support of my home church Cosmeston, with high focus on a safe environment to teach people to use their voices, to boost confidence, developing true musicianship with a holistic rather than pressurised approach. Wellbeing and having fun is at the fore front of our ethic.”

She added that over the last few months the choir has continued to grow.

“We have covered a wide spectrum of music since ranging from Mozart, Les Miserable, John Rutter, Coldplay, The Beatles and much more. The next concert will be in June and we will be starting rehearsals for that in March. The choir is in its early stages of developing but has grown dramatically over the past two months and our new accompanist Julie Teagle is superb to work with.”

She added that she hoped a youth choir would form as an offshoot of Penarth Choir.

“I teach in local schools and privately, and often include the students in the community concerts taking full advantage of the 'safe environment' created for youth to perform, many for the first time.

“It would be great for a youth choir to form as an off shoot. I also run Llandough Hospital Community Choir and Penarth Choir have done some work with them, as is planned for the New Year!”

Penarth Choir meet every Monday evening at 7.30pm at at Stanwell Road Baptist Church and ask for a £2 a week contribution. For more information contact Clare Gardener at 07866807214.