TOP film and TV composer Richard Blackford was looking for a sweet, fresh sound for his latest work setting the poems of Francis of Assisi to music. At a school on the edge of the New Forest he found the unspoiled voices he was looking for, to suit the words of the natureloving saint. Richard heard the choir of Ballard Lake Preparatory School, New Milton, singing with the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and knew he had found his child stars.

The 40 youngsters found themselves in rehearsals with one of the countys top composers, being filmed by the BBC for a special St Francis programme, and recording a CD Mirror of Perfection which is heading for the Classical charts.

Now the disc is on general release, staff and children at the 302pupil school are glued to the radio, listening for familiar voices among the Placido Domingos and Charlotte Churches.

Ballards music teacher Liz Nayler who sings with the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus is overjoyed by the success of her songbirds. It was quite a tricky piece of musicianship. They had to make the recording without the soloists to lead them they were recorded separately.

"But Richard Blackford is such a lovely man a real gentleman. He was so patient and positive in rehearsals with the children."

The 10- to 13-year-olds had to brush up on languages for their two tracks. The Canticle of the Birds is in French, and the Canticle of Peace in Latin.

Ballard singers Emma Ward, 13, and James Waldron, 11, both from Lymington , say the choir took the linguistics in their stride.

"The one about the birds was quite long it told a story about how St Francis thought the birds were his brothers," said Emma. "We had a few disagreements over pronunciations for the Latin one," said James.

"Recording took a whole day at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth. It was quite an insight."

The Ballard Lake Choir will be performing at Wimborne Minster, Dorset, on July 18.

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