THE Three Choirs Festival Youth Choir has launched a search for singers

Singers aged from 14 to 25 are being invited to step forward and spend a week rehearsing in Gloucester for two festival performances at Gloucester Cathedral.

The full choir of sopranos, altos, tenors and basses will have its own cathedral concert on the morning of Friday July 29, performing Rossini’s sparkling Petite Messe solennelle.

A spokesman described this as "a thrilling work with a unique sound world created by the accompaniment of two pianos and a harmonium".

Sopranos and altos will also have the opportunity to join the Three Choirs Festival Chorus and Philharmonia Orchestra for the final concert of the festival, a performance of Mahler’s immense Symphony No 8, known as the ‘Symphony of a Thousand, on July 30.

The spokesman added: "Rehearsals take place in Gloucester Academy of Music, directed by Geraint Bowen, who will conduct the Rossini, Adrian Partington, who will conduct the Mahler, and Nia Llewelyn Jones, the singing development leader of Gloucester Cathedral." There are no formal auditions and the rehearsal week is non-residential.

More information can be found on the Youth Choir page of the Three Choirs Festival website. Singers interested in applying to take part should email youthchoir@3choirs.org to request an application form.

Full programme details for Gloucester Three Choirs Festival can also be found on the festival website. Booking is open now via the Ticket Office: 01452 768928