A CHRISTCHURCH choir has been given hundreds of pounds in a community scheme.

The La Nova Singers, an all-female chamber choir, were shortlisted from hundreds of entries in the Skipton Building Society Grassroots Giving Scheme.

They were handed £500 after a public vote, with 161 groups across the UK awarded funding.

The money will help subsidise the choir’s running costs, enabling them to put on more ambitious concerts and continue supporting charitable causes and community events with their singing.

Holly Stroud, a member of the choir, said: “This funding will be such a boost to us – we’re entering our 10th anniversary year, which is a fantastic opportunity for us to push ourselves and try new things.

“We’d like to work with professional orchestral musicians, perform new music and create more exciting concerts.”

The choir specialises in performing classical choral music. Their next concert is at Highcliffe Castle on Wednesday, December 10, when they will perform Britten’s Ceremony of Carols accompanied by harpist Katie Salomon. See lanovasingers.co.uk