THE Berry Theatre hosted The New Music Makers' summer concert, 'Pop In' to Summer to coincide with BBC Music Day - and raise money for local charities.

The eclectic mix of music ranged from Karl Jenkins' 'Cantate Domino' and a sublime mix of 'I Believe' and 'Ave Maria', to a Mary Poppins medley, Elton John's 'Your Song', Pharryl Williams' 'Happy' and music from several films and musicals, not to mention jazz and gospel numbers.

Michael Goldthorpe ( Music Director) and David Farnell ( Assistant MD) brought musical razzamatazz to the evening with the award-winning Hedge End based choir accompanied by Chris Allison on the piano, ably assisted by his son Zak, as page turner.

A New Music Makers' night out is not only about the choir, as they support talented young musicians by involving them in their concerts and this year they had Rory Staff on saxaphone and clarinet on board. Rory belongs to the Southampton Youth Jazz Orchestra and has played with the jazz saxophonists John Surman and John Toussaint, the jazz pianist Joseph and the award winning singer Leanne Carrol, so they knew they were in for a treat with his jazz set!

They were also joined by the multi talented Bethany Mayers who is a member of the Hampshire County Orchestra and the National Youth Chamber Orchestra. Bethany recently returned from a music tour in Switzerland and from playing at the Royal College of Music. Her chosen pieces were Chopin's 'Waltz in B minor, Op 69, No 2', on the piano and 'Cool Contrast', on the trumpet, by Tony Cliff. After completing her music studies at Peter Symmonds College she hopes to pursue her music studies at one of the UK's top music conservatoires.

Now as the choir looks ahead to their Christmas concert they are pleased to announce they will be under the baton of their new Music Director, Lillian Sediles from the USA, who takes over from Michael Goldthorpe, whose professional musical expertise over the past five years has helped make the New Music Makers the award winning choir it is today.