THE Britten Singers celebrates its 30th birthday this month, with Elgar in Hereford music award-winner Pamela White still at the helm.

Having conducted 180 concerts and taken over a thousand rehearsals, Pamela is as surprised as anyone to find herself there.

When she founded the choir in 1975, she envisaged it as a chamber choir that would make music for the joy of it.

Attaining high standards of music-making and having a wide repertoire were added ambitions, which have largely been realised.

In addition, the choir has raised thousands of pounds. The group regularly receives requests to play for charity - sometimes at very small and remote venues - and is always happy to assist in fund-raising ventures.

"The raising of money for charity has become very important for us all," said Pamela.

The singers have also travelled around the country and abroad.

Last year, the group had the pleasure of hosting a choir from Norway, which they had visited in 2003.

Although only one other singer has been with Pamela from day one - Naomi Bell - the group has a stalwart core of 15.

"I think the secret of the group's longevity is partly its reputation, partly its wide repertoire and partly the emphasis on fun.

"Although we are very serious about the music, we have a lot of laughs," she said.

For the anniversary concert, to be performed in All Saints Church on April 15, Pamela has commissioned a work from the former organist of Gloucester Cathedral, David Briggs.

Appropriately called Music, the piece is a setting of words of Walter de la Mare.

Like the piece she commissioned for the choir's 25th anniversary, by the late John Sanders, Pamela hopes the piece will be published and sung and enjoyed.

"I wrote a friendly letter to former members and supporters to see if they'd help fund the commission, and the response was staggering," she said.

The programme for the anniversary concert will include madrigals, 20th century part songs, two songs by Britten and Schubert's Mass in G major, and will feature a small string ensemble led by Stephen Brown, leader of Hereford String Orchestra.

The concert is free with a discretionary contribution being taken and profits going to St Michael's Hospice.

A signed print by local artist Fiona Field, a previous member of the group, will be auctioned on the evening.