CONCERTS brought Christmas joy to their audiences as well as to a mid Cheshire charity when four choirs joined together in harmony.

Sir John Deane’s College hosted two sell-out concerts by its ‘singing for pleasure’ choirs, which raised more than £3,500 for St Luke’s Hospice.

The choirs were made up of both beginners and advanced singers from the college’s adult education department but there was nothing amateur about their performances.

I went to the concert on Wednesday, December 11, which was led with energy and humour by musical director Mel Levy and accompanied by pianist Keith Robinson.

The accomplished groups brought smiles to faces in the audience as they sang their way through cheerful classics like Amarillo and Son of Preacher Man, Christmas favourites like The Fairy Tale of New York and Merry Christmas Everybody and their own version of Climb Every Mountain, often with dance moves or props included.

Special mention must also be given to Hils Wilson, Lynda Cole and Rachel Vale, who all sang impressive solos on the night.

It was very easy to forget that these choirs are not professional as they gave an uplifting, joyous performance that easily got us all in the mood for Christmas.

They were certainly singing for pleasure all round.