TWO local choirs will be raising the roof in The Minster on Saturday, July 7 from 7.30pm with the grande finale concert in Wimborne Choral Society's 40th anniversary year.

Led by its founder and musical director Christopher Dowie, members of the choir will be joined by Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir and conductor David Gostick.

Both choirs and soprano soloist Fay Gostick will be accompanied by Wimborne Chamber Orchestra and handbell ringers.

The dedicated singers will be joining forces to perform From Darkness To Light, the second of three works for soloist, choir and orchestra composed by Dowie during his time as Organist and Master of the Choristers at The Minster before he went on to launch the choral society that is best known for captivating audiences with the "Big Stuff" from Rutter to Mozart.

The concert will also feature Handel's Coronation Anthems.

Dowie's original work is inspired by texts such as the biblical The Lamentations of Jeremiah and T. S. Eliots’s poem O Light Invisible and was composed after a challenging time in his life when his son was born with a critical condition but survived.

He has also created an elegant piece of musical choreography to underscore the depth of his composition with one choir standing behind the orchestra while the second choir moves around The Minster.

Tickets are available at Square Records, 14 High St, Wimborne or phone 01202 603569 and are £12 reserved in the Nave or £10 unreserved with concessions for children.