FOR forty years a group of dedicated and talented singers have entertained people across the region, generating a huge amount of support from Knutsford residents.

September 2015 marks the beginning of the Tatton Singers 40th anniversary and the choir are gearing up to celebrate with their most challenging programme yet.

Tony Wood, chairman of the Tatton Singers, has revealed that under musical director, John Powell the group are set to perform one of history’s most demanding choral works, Bach’s B Minor Mass.

The mass will be complete with professional soloists and a baroque orchestra.

Tony said: “The concert is going to be huge. It’s because of John’s direction that we are able to perform the mass.

“It is a major work for a non professional choir to undertake, but I can assure you our musical director would not let us undertake it if he didn't think we would put in a good performance.

The choir, which started with six members in 1976, now boasts 80 musically talented individuals who commit at least three hours a week to practising together.

“Over the last 40 years the Tatton Singers group has grown dramatically,” said Tony. “I remember when we used to do our summer concerts in the Heritage Centre, which was fantastic.

“But now we average audiences of 250 to 300 people so we can’t all fit in. We really get a great deal of support from the Knutsford people.

“On top of that we always have the Mayor of Cheshire East and the Mayor of Knutsford attending our concerts, which is so encouraging. It’s is very beneficial to have them there.

Performing four concerts a year, the Tatton Singers attract people from across the north west and in the choir’s forty years, members have performed at venues including the Royal Northern College of Music and enjoyed collaborations with renowned musicians.

Having gained momentum over the last four decades, the choir now welcomes musicians from a range of backgrounds and of different ages.

Tony said: “The average age of the choir has dropped quite dramatically. But this isn’t a bad thing. We like to encourage younger up and coming soloists.

“It’s great to see them build and grow. There’s even a couple of younger people who we have had who are now performing in America and Canada.

“But we are a very mixed group, all with different strengths. That’s what makes it so interesting.”

“The singing membership of the society includes trained, experienced singers and others with little formal musical education.

“The qualities that make it possible for all these to perform effectively together are enthusiasm, tolerance and above all, commitment to attaining the high standard possible under inspiring direction.

As well as securing former Cambridge choral scholar and past Head of Choral Music at Chethams, John Powell, as director for the past 10 years, Tony has also aided the group in acquiring new staging, which will benefit the choir and the audience alike.

For more information about The Tatton Singers, visit www.thetattonsingers.co.uk