NEARLY 70 girls were given a taste of singing in a choir at a free workshop in Yate on Saturday.

All-female vocal harmony group Fascinating Rhythm held a day-long workshop for 68 seven to 14-year-olds at Yate International Academy, teaching youngsters what it is like to perform in a choir.

The Rangeworthy-based group, which regularly wins top awards, has been running a youth section called Junior FR since 2011 which it is looking to expand.

Led by director Jo Dean and assistant director Wendy Howse, children practised a specially-arranged version of Pharrell Williams’ Happy and the Lily Allen version of Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know before performing the numbers to parents in the afternoon.

Kathryn Hurley, from the Kathryn Hurley Dance Academy, taught an hour of street dance and the youngsters were treated to a performance of Ain’t No Mountain by several members of Fascinating Rhythm.

Chloe Roberts, assistant director of Junior FR, said: “We are looking at expanding the youth section but really we just wanted to give girls the experience.

“It was really successful, we had so many people sign up and they all really enjoyed themselves.”

The event was free thanks to a South Gloucestershire Council grant and a donation from Renishaw.

Junior FR is holding a free trial session this Friday, September 19 (4pm) at Iron Acton Parish Hall where it meets weekly. Email wendyhowse@hotmail.com for details.

Fascinating Rhythm meets every Thursday (7.30pm) in Rangeworthy Memorial Hall and is holding a dress rehearsal, ahead of the group’s entry into a national contest, at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall on Thursday, October 16. Email chloe-tony@hotmail.co.uk for tickets.