Leek, Staffordshire, a busy market town and antique centre.

LEEK'S PHOENIX SINGERS JOIN WITH THE ESTE AMAZING GOSPEL CHOIR TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS IN HARMONY

The Phoenix Singers' contribution to Leek Arts Festival will be a joint concert with The Este Amazing Gospel Choir that celebrates the 10 th Anniversary of Leek being twinned with the Italian town of Este.

The Este Amazing Gospel Choir was formed in January 2001, and aims to portray in depth the traditions of Afro-American, spiritual and gospel music. From its very early days the Choir chose to donate the bulk of its revenues to charity and to stage charity concerts to entertain residents of care homes and penal institutions. Since its beginnings, the Choir has performed over 200 concerts, both in Italy and abroad, to the acclaim of both critics and public.

In honour of the Queen's Jubilee, The Phoenix Singers will be including two items which relate to the coronation of HM Elizabeth II. Sir Hubert Parry's I Was Glad , a setting of verses from Psalm 122, was played at the Queen's coronation (and more recently at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge), while Benjamin Britten's opera Gloriana – about the relationship between Elizabeth I and the Earl of Essex - was commissioned by the Royal Opera House as part of the coronation celebrations for the second Elizabeth. The choir will sing the six Choral Dances from Gloriana.

The concert will be held at All Saints' Church in Leek on Saturday 26 May, starting at 7.30 p.m. Tickets cost £8 (£2 for under 18s) and are available from Leek Tourist Office; Picton St. Post Office; Picture Book, Stanley Street, Leek; or by phoning 01538 385579. Tickets can also be bought on-line by debit/credit card via the Phoenix website: www.phoenixsingersleek.co.uk