Romsey Choral Society launched its Silver Jubilee year at its annual meeting in Romsey Baptist Church, by announcing a celebratory programme of music and activities for the coming months.

Musical director David Truslove claimed the 80-strong choir is now one of the finest in southern

England and highlighted its outstanding performance of the Monteverdi Vespers, which launched the Romsey Festival in July, as testimony to this claim.

David said that the choir was capable of performing the most challenging choral works in the future, such as Handel's Dixit Dominus, which he hoped to include in a future concert.

Returning to the jubilee year, chairman John Tilling referred to the performance of the Messiah in Romsey Abbey on November 12 in a concert of remembrance.

This will be followed in December by a traditional carol concert, with readings, in the United Reformed Church.

The climax will, however, be in April when the choral society will be joined by Romsey Singers and the boy and girl trebles from Romsey Abbey choir to perform the St Matthew Passion in the Abbey on the Saturday before Easter.

This is believed to be the first time the three choirs will have performed together and John said it would be a landmark concert in the town's remarkable musical history.

John also announced that the choir had been invited to tour Germany in June with a number of concerts planned in the Hanover area.

The focus of the trip will be sponsored performances to celebrate the re-opening of a restored mill in the village of Steyerberg.

The Choral Society will again be the lead choir at Music in the Air next July, following a highly successful performance, albeit in heavy rain, at Middle Wallop this summer. This event regularly attracts an audience of over 10,000 people..

The choir now has a colourful new website, at www.romseychoral.org.uk with information on forthcoming events and concerts, plus contact details for new singers interested in joining the very friendly Romsey choir.