KENDAL Millennium Youth Choir has just celebrated its tenth birthday.

The choir first drew breath in September 2000 under the leadership of its original musical directors Linda Graves and Moira Hall.

Affectionately known as ‘the Milli,’ its members are drawn from young singers aged from eight-18 years who live in and around Kendal.

The choir’s aim is to promote music for children and young people, offering an opportunity to sing and produce music both formally and informally through regular rehearsals and concerts, as well as local workshops and residential weekends.

And in recent years the young singers have graced many stages on behalf of countless local charities and organisations.

In September 2009 Moira - former music teacher at Kendal’s Stramongate School - retired from the choir through ill health.

Linda’s daughter Anna, who had sung with the choir since its inception and had helped Linda and Moira over recent years, took over.

Anna teaches at Stramongate Primary School, is the musical director of St Mark's Church Choir, at Natland, and is a member of Kendal and District Gilbert and Sullivan and Kendal Amateur Operatic societies.

Accompanied by pianist Daniel Crompton at the piano, the talented youngsters meet every Tuesday during term time at St Thomas' School, in Kendal, from 5.30pm-7.30pm, honing their vocal chords on a wide-ranging repertoire from classical and traditional, to multi-cultural and modern works.

Choir chairman Michael Atkinson said it had also been a notable year because one of the choir’s original members Lauren Storer, had made her debut on the West End stage in the smash hit musical Dreamboats and Petticoats.

As the choir heads into a fresh decade, Linda - head teacher at Dean Barwick School, Witherslack - and Anna are keen to augment the ensemble, particularly from aged seven upwards. Explained Linda: “We take young people who have never had any musical experience and hopefully instill in them a lifelong love of music.”

Those interested in joining ‘Milli’ can bob along to Tuesday rehearsals or telephone Linda on 015395-61565.