MEMBERS of the Malvern Festival Chorus will be joining choirs from across Europe for a mass performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Around 20 people from the choir will be heading to London to take part in the annual Really Big Chorus, a chorus of 2,000 singing the Verdi Requiem under the baton of Sir David Willcocks, one of the world's greatest conductors.

Malvern members have taken part in the event for several years and organiser June Lay-Eaton said it is a great day out.

"It's great fun, we have a great time, we really enjoy it," she said.

Mrs Lay-Eaton said the event was important to keep the choral tradition alive.

"It has to be kept going and it also brings in money, which is important. But the social part of it does come into it!"

Choirs across the continent rehearse locally before travelling to London. A final rehearsal in the venue itself precedes the concert.

The event, which takes place on Sunday, June 30, also collects money for charity. Organiser, Concerts from Scratch, is hoping to top the £5,700 raised last year for the Leukaemia Research Fund.

MFC spokesman Sue McClelland said that although the concert was not an official event on their calendar, it was beneficial to them.

"This is something that was have done over the years, we do like to join in with national things," she said. "It's good experience and it's good for our profile, so only good can come out of it."

Tickets for the performance, which starts at 7.30pm, are available from the Royal Albert Hall box office on 020 7589 8212.