SINGERS of all ages will have the chance to take part in a special charity concert later this year.

Benjamin Britten’s Saint Nicolas, will be sung by more than 100 youngsters in the opening event of this year’s International Maidstone Music and Dance Festival at Mote Hall, Maidstone Leisure Centre on June 13.

Students from all Maidstone’s secondary schools have been invited to take part.

The concert, supported by the Kent Messenger, will also feature a performance of three movements of Karl Jenkins’ Stabat Mater by choirs and singers from Maidstone and the surrounding areas. The work was premiered in Liverpool last year.

The solo in this work will be sung by professional singer and former Maidstone Grammar School for Girls’ pupil Rachel Lloyd. The conductor for the evening will be Jeffrey Vaughan Martin, the previous musical director of the Maidstone Choral Union.

Proceeds from the concert, which is also being supported by all four Maidstone and district Rotary clubs and overseen by Jupiter Workshops, will go to the Heart of Kent Hospice at Aylesford.

One of the organisers Jane Anderson said: “Maidstone will be in the forefront to give the local people the opportunity of taking part in the performance or coming to listen to what will be a very exciting opening to the festival.”

A large four-part choir is needed for the works. Anyone who wants to take part will have to be available for at least five rehearsals, the first on May 3 at the Community Centre, Methodist Church, Brewer Street, Maidstone.

There will be a £25 charge to take part which includes £13 for a copy of Jenkins’ work which people can keep.

Anyone wanting to join in should call Jane Anderson on 077638 67965 or email jupiterworkshops@hotmail.com for more information.

The closing date for applications is February 1.