A singing group is celebrating 40 years of perfect harmony with a gala performance.

Eastern Daily Press: Thetford choir in rehersals for their anniversary concert.Thetford choir in rehersals for their anniversary concert. (Image: Archant norfolk)

Thetford Singers' 2014 is all about 'the community, our history and singing through the decades', with all this year's concerts using music from different times in the choir's history.

A gala concert will be held at the town's Guildhall on July 19 to mark the occasion, with the highlight a performance of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's 'Hiawatha's Wedding Feast'.

The group was founded in 1974 and performed choral music and four-part songs.

Since then it has travelled the area staging pieces by composers including Bach, Mozart and Ralph Vaughan Williams at venues across Norfolk and Suffolk including Swaffham, Watton, Downham Market and Diss.

Highlights of its 40 years include performing at King's Lynn Corn Exchange with 300 schoolchildren and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under the baton of conductor, Scott Stroman.

Julie Settle, the group's publicity co-ordinator, said singing served an important part in members' lives.

'Choral societies are part of the British way of life and people love to sing. It's good for you and it brings people together.

'We get together as a group and people smile when they are singing, and it doesn't matter if it's classical or more contemporary music,' she said.

Thetford Singers will also be participating in the 2014 Thetford Festival with a 'Find Your Voice' workshop on August 30, which is open to all.

To buy tickets for the 40th Anniversary Gala in advance, go to Leaping Hare in King Street. Tickets are £6 or £5 concessions.