A NEW community choir is coming to Dorchester in the New Year under the baton of local musician Ed Hintze.

Anyone who wants to become part of a choir led by Ed, who impersonated Elton John on BBC1’s The Only and Only TV series, is invited to go along to the choir launch at the United Church in Dorchester on Wednesday, January 7 at 7pm.

There will be a performance by the Weymouth and Portland Dorset for Singing group followed by a chance to find out more about the new choir.

There is no charge for this event. Rehearsals then start in the church at 6.45pm on Wednesday, January 14 and on Thursday, January 15 at All Saints School in Weymouth.

Ed started Dorset for Singing, based in Wyke Regis, seven years ago and has seen it go from strength to strength.

“The success of Dorset for Singing has inspired me to expand further afield”, Ed explained. “We have membership of around 100 and I have had many requests to start another choir in Dorchester. The time feels right.”

Dorset for Singing has toured Normandy and Oxford and is due to perform in Canterbury during May next year. They are also in constant demand for performing locally and have supported Victorian Show Night, Sutton Poyntz Street Fayre and the Fayre in the Square among many others.

They have raised more than £6,000 for various charities including Starlight Children’s Foundation, Dogs for the Disabled and Julia’s House.

Their chosen charity this year is The Samaritans of Dorset at Weymouth.

Rehearsals are relaxed and informal, with the main emphasis on singing for fun. “Members tell me that they always leave rehearsals on a high,” Ed says.

“There’s something magical about singing your heart out with a group, it’s such a buzz!”

Membership for Dorset for Singing costs £2.50 per session for pay-as-you-go, silver membership (£20 per term of 10 rehearsals), gold membership at £45 per year (30 rehearsals) or the new platinum membership, which is £60 and allows you to join in both the Weymouth and the Dorchester rehearsals for a year working out at £1 per session.

Email choir manager Jenny Hintze at dfs@live.co.uk, call 077 2345 3619 or visit the website dorsetforsinging.co.uk