IT’S not because their Head of Music, Elizabeth Paterson is married to Russell, the Musical Director of Warrington Male Voice choir, that Bowdon Prep School choir are joining them for a special concert.

The 34  nine  – 11-year olds have a proven track record of their own.

In February, they competed against seven other children’s choirs, to win best choir in the Bowdon Youth Festival competition when their younger sisters in the Junior Choir also won the most entertaining choir accolade.

For  two years they have come top  in their category at the Alderley Edge Music Festival.

Mrs Paterson will be conducting them in two spots of five songs  at Thank You, Terry, when the adult choir will celebrate 20 years of  patronage by Terry Waite, who spent 1760 days in solitary confinement in Beirut..

Some of the choristers have  learnt from their parents about the man who was imprisoned for so long, but, their conductor said:  “I’ll make sure they all know about him before the concert.”

She said:  “I encourage them to sing in harmony.   In one piece about Mozart for children, they will sing in four parts.

“The girls have to learn the music and all the words.”

I don’t know what I would do without Kristin Lien, my accompanist,” she said.

Russell Paterson  said  Terry Waite had become involved  with the Warrington Male Voice Choir after the IRA Warrington bombing in 1993.  “He accompanied  us across the island of Ireland and became our patron in 1996.”

His choir plan a programme of popular, contemporary and sacred music, the highlight being Terry’s favourite piece, Bryn Myrddin.

Terry will speak on the night.

*          Thank you, Terry, is at St Oswald’s RC Church, Padgate Lane, Warrington on Saturday, April 16 at 7.45.   Tickets £8 (adults), £5 (under 16s);  Pay at door.