YOUNG choir singers raised the roof at a regional arts festival when they carried off not one, but two, trophies.

Wyedean School and Sixth Form Centre’s Gospel Choir and its main choir both called the tune at the Mid-Somerset Festival, held at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon last Wednesday (March 20).

The former landed the ‘Gospel Music’ title with I Will Follow Him from Sister Act II and Set a Fire, while the 40-strong main choir took the ‘Free Choice’ crown with a John Denver double of Perhaps Love and Take Me Home Country Roads.

Choir conductor and school head of music Pat Allard said: “Both choirs gave excellent performances and the wins are a testament to their hard work. They sang beautifully and it’s a great reward. They were thrilled to win.”

Wyedean Gospel Choir was in action again last Friday (March 22) at the Music for Youth regional competition in Newport, with the results due to be announced at the end of April.

Founded in 2006 by a sixth former, it has around 25 members and is “run by students for students”.

The choir meets once a week at Monday lunchtime to practise, and has done all sorts of public performances, said Mrs Allard.

Four years ago, they appeared with Alfie Boe at St David’s Hall in Cardiff and have performed at weddings, church services, workshops, male choir concerts, and special events, such as the Tintern Abbey Torchlight Service.

“Some of them are in the main choir as well, and we do songs like Joyful Joyful from Sister Act, Oh Happy Day and Shackles.

“They sing the songs with choreographed movements, and feature traditional Gospel songs alongside music from the likes of Sister Act.”

The Mid-Somerset Festival has 5,000 entries across all its arts and music classes. Some 15 schools took part in the Secondary Schols Choral day, from Bath and throughout the South West.