WHEN two mixed choirs from the Music Place, Altrincham, sang in the Rock Shopping Centre in Bury, they were not only surrounded by shoppers of all ages, but also with rugby fans.

The fans were there to view the Webb Ellis Cup on a leg of its World Cup Trophy tour.

Choir master Clare Morel, said:“I liked it because there were lots of big Rugby fans there and we sang their music.”

It included World in Union sung at the last Rugby world cup hosted by New Zealand in 2011, Swing Low Sweet Chariot and the moving hymns Jerusalem and Bread of Heaven.

They surprised people by performing as a flash mob. One person sang first and the rest gradually joined in.

Brave Lucy Yardley who has never done anything like it before, started them off.

Modestly, she asked Clare “I’m sure you have someone else who can do it?”

Vocal coach, Alison Owen said: “She was brilliant. She stood in the middle of the shopping centre and just sang. Eventually the whole choir were singing in harmony with no accompaniment.

Clare said: “Bill Beaumont was carrying the cup. I would love to have had my photo taken with him.”

The choir went one step further than photographs. They were filmed for Granada reports and appeared on TV last Tuesday, July 28.

Lucy McElhinney started the Music Place 18 yeas ago. As well as the choirs, it gives instrumental tuition and individual singing lessons by Alison and others.

They are running a jazz summer school at the Cinnamon Club, Bowdon from 10 am to 5 pm from August 16-19 with jam sessions every night from 7.30 and a concert on the Wednesday night.

• For more information call 0161 928 3337 or email lucy@themusicplace.co.uk