INTERNATIONALLY-acclaimed soprano, Julie Kench, and four other leading soloists, will be performing with the Oriana Singers at the choir's forthcoming concert, in St James’ Church, Dursley, on Saturday. The soloists and choir will be accompanied by the Severn Strings orchestra, with instrumentalists in all parts including  trumpets and drums.

The concert's major work will be the “Magnificat” by J.S.Bach, followed by Handel’s Chandos Anthem, “O Praise the Lord with one Consent”.  The final piece will be Charpentier’s “Te Deum",  made famous as the signature tune to the Eurovision Song contest.

Julie Kench has sung at La Scala Milan and performed with the Vienna Philharmonic. As a member of the Swingle Singers, she appeared on TV in Proms concerts and can be heard on the soundtrack of “The Hobbit”.

The other soloists include Peter Bates, a Tenor Lay Clerk at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral, who regularly sings for Radio 4’s Daily Service. Fiona Mackay has sung with the City of London Sinfonia and is engaged to sing with world-leading conductor Jane Glover later this year. Martin Le Poidevin has been a soloist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Tallis scholars.  

For the first time the choir will be singing with young soprano, Gillian Wells, who was named the Senior Vocal Champion at the 2014 Bristol Eisteddfod.

The concert starts at 7.30pm.  Tickets (£10 each) can be bought on the door or from the choir via their website www.orianasingers.org