PEEBLES choir, InChorus, has announced that it will be joined by Scottish singer/songwriter Dougie MacLean at its charity Christmas concert on Saturday, December 8.

The choir has joined forces with the Rotary Club of Peebles to run this event, with the proceeds being split equally between the Rotary Club and InChorus for distribution to their chosen charities.

The international charity, the Freedom From Fistula Foundation, will benefit from the Rotary Club's proportion. InChorus will split their half between local branches of Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the new Margaret Kerr Unit for palliative care at the Borders General Hospital.

This concert promises to be something very special. Musical Director Andrew Russel explained: "InChorus was delighted to be asked to, once again, perform as Dougie MacLean's 'backing singers' at a concert in Perth Concert Hall last week, part of the Perthshire Amber Festival, an event close to Dougie's heart.

"We were doubly delighted when he offered, in return, to sing at our home concert in Peebles Old Parish Church, an event at the very core of our hearts." And he added: "More than that, it is wonderful to have the assistance of our local Rotary Club." At the Christmas concert the choir will sing some of its more recent pieces, including a brand new arrangement of Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida'. Regular attendees of InChorus concerts will recall that at the Festival Theatre Concert in September the Scottish Police Choirs sang Jessie J's 'Price Tag' to great acclaim.

InChorus was so impressed that they asked Andrew Russel to teach it to them without delay! The result can be judged by the Peebles audience.

Russel's arrangements of many Christmas favourites will also appear in the programme and the audience will be invited to sing along.

Together with several of MacLean's lyrical compositions, including the world famous 'Caledonia', this will be a memorable evening.

Those who have not yet heard InChorus, but who have enjoyed watching Gareth Malone and his contemporary choirs on television, might like to come along and support their own local modern choir.

This exuberant and enthusiastic outfit of more than one hundred voices has delighted many during the four years of its existence.

You may even be inspired to join them and be part of the next big event.

The concert takes place at the Old Parish Church in Peebles on Saturday, December 8, at 7.30pm.

Tickets, priced �10 for adults and �5 for school children, are available from Graham McGrath Gentlemen's Outfitter, Eastgate, Peebles; A L Storey Optician, High Street, Peebles, Peebles; Rotary Club members; or from InChorus members. Children under five go free. For further information look online at www.inchorus.org.uk