The Department of Education’s Music Service is forming a lunchtime choir for adults.

The as-yet-unnamed choir will meet at the Music Centre in Lord Street, Douglas, from 1.15pm-1.45pm every Friday during term time.

Everyone is welcome to come along, regardless of their singing background: you might have lots of experience or be an absolute beginner.

Vocal training will be included in every session and the emphasis is on having fun, while meeting the challenge of singing in a range of musical styles, from traditional music from around the world and pop, folk and jazz arrangements to more serious, classical styles.

The sessions will be led by Maggie Richardson, Head of the Music Service.

Before moving to the Isle of Man, Maggie chaired the choral charity Sing for Pleasure for seven years and has worked with singers and choirs of all standards for 25 years.

She also conducts the Manx Youth Orchestra and Manx Youth Choir.

"One of the most enjoyable groups I ever worked with came out of a 10-week evening class course in Cheshire that had 75 members," says Maggie.

"From the very first session, it was wonderful to see people being liberated from a lifetime of believing that they couldn't sing because they had had a bad experience when they were young."

She adds, "You might not have sung since you were at school, or you might have been the person told to mime in the Sunday school nativity!

"Equally, you might have a little more experience and just fancy a good sing every Friday lunchtime as a wind down to the weekend.

"Either way, everyone is welcome."

Although no audition will be necessary to join the choir, it will help the organisers if they know how many people to expect.

Please call the Music Centre on 01624 686555. The first rehearsal will be on Friday 2nd October.