KIDDERMINSTER Choral Society is planning to nurture the voices of the future by setting up a group for youngsters.

"Primary Chords" for children aged five to nine, will launch in September and will serve to complement the adult choir - which has about 120 members from across the Midlands - and the Wyre Forest Young Voices Section.

The new group will be led by Carol Hill, a society committee member and experienced music teacher, who is planning to meet potential members in their schools this term.

Sessions will be held in the chantry at St Mary's Church on Wednesdays from 3.45pm for an hour, starting on September 5.

Group members will play singing games and exercises and learning songs - and have the chance to take opportunities that a "crowded curriculum" does not allow them to take part in at school.

Mrs Hill said: "We hope 'Primary Chords' will supplement what the schools are doing in music and that we shall be able to co-operate with them in projects and in other ways."

The Wyre Forest Young Voices youth choir was set up in 1997 for youngsters aged 10 - 18, but even younger children are now being targeted.

Choral society chairman Jonathan Price said: "We depend on these much younger singers to take over from us in years to come. If we don't help to instil a love of singing in them they won't be there to carry on singing Handel's Messiah or the other wonderful choral works that we perform."

Mrs Hill can be contacted on 01562 735571.