PUPILS from a Calne School are preparing to hit the high notes when they take part in national competition at an iconic venue in London next month.

The Chamber Choir from St Margaret’s Preparatory School won the title of Wiltshire Junior Choir of the Year in November 2018 and will now compete in the Final of the Barnardo’s National Choral Competition at The Festival Hall on March 4.

The choir comprises 28 pupils from Years 5 and 6 and they are preparing to sing in front of an audience of 3,000 people.

Head of Music, Hilary Gibbin said: "All the children auditioned for the choir because they love to sing. They were graded outstanding when they won the Wiltshire Choir of the Year competition and are well known in the local area, often performing at charity events such as the Julia’s House Carol Service in Devizes.

"We decided to enter the National Choral Competition this year for the second time, having previously got through to the Final in 2017 with a different group of children.

"The singers in in this year's choir are very excited to have this amazing opportunity, as some of them have older siblings who sang with us previously and have told them all about it.

"The Barnardo's National Choral Competition is very popular and receives thousands of applications from aspiring choirs; it is a real honour to be selected.

" Each choir competes by performing two songs in the daytime competition, additionally the massed ensemble comprising all the singers together will bring the evening concert to a rousing conclusion, whilst also raising thousands of pounds for Barnardo's."

The St Margaret’s children will sing This Day by Bob Chilcott and a jazz arrangement of Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It).