MALVERN Festival Chorus completes its 82nd season and the first under new conductor Iain Sloan with a performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah at the Malvern Theatres.

Mr Sloan took over the baton from Rory Boyle after the latter's move to Scotland but was no stranger to the group, having deputised for Mr Boyle and sung solo with the chorus.

"It's been very good, we've had a lot of fun in rehearsals and worked hard and I feel they have come on an awful lot," he said.

"It's not a professional choir, people are there because they love the music the singing and I think that comes over."

The chorus' early plans for the next season include Handel's Saul at the Malvern Theatres in November and the annual charity carol concert on December 28, which this year will be in aid of Acorns Children's Hospice.

"We're doing a French programme in March and then an all-Elgar one, which we hope will appeal to the Malvern audience," said Mr Sloan.

The group has recruited soloists Susan Black (soprano), Vanessa Williamson (mezzo-soprano), Dan Ludford-Thomas (tenor) and Ian Caddy (bass) for Elijah.

Susan Black is perhaps Malvern's best known singer, having performed extensively around the UK and abroad, touring South Africa and Zimbabwe with the Lydbrook Silver Band and having recently returned from a 14-day visit to Washington DC with the Churchdown Male Voice Choir.

Future engagements include the world premier of a song cycle by John Sanders and the role of Tosca with Swindon Opera Group. She also teaches singing at The Downs School, Colwall, and Malvern College.

Vanessa Williamson has worked with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. She has also toured at home and abroad and appeared at major festivals, like the Three Choirs.

Last year, she sang at centenary performances of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius and has recently released a CD of Haydn's choral works for Meridian.

Dan Ludford-Thomas was Choirboy of the Year in 1986 and now performs a diverse range of professional singing work, specialising particularly in oratorio and in recitals of early Italian lute song. Recent engagements have include Haydn's The Creation, Handel's Messiah, Britten's St Nicholas and a series of Italian song recitals in London and the north east.

Ian Caddy has recently released a CD of Lord Berner's comic opera, La Carrosse du Saint-Sacrement and has a busy year ahead, with engagements in London, Dublin, France, Zimbabwe.

Elijah will be performed on Saturday, June 2 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £7, £10 and £12 from 01684 892277.