Renowned local youth choir, Cantate, are loosening up their vocal cords and tentatively making space in the trophy cabinet as they prepare for the World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia, taking place from the 9th to 13th July.

The World Choir Games, often referred to as the World Choir Olympics, is one of the most prestigious worldwide choral events. In

*Pans People - singing's just the beginning! ©Tanja Nikola

2008, Cantate went to the World Choir Games in Graz, Austria, and was the only UK choir to come back with two medals; one gold and one silver.

The Games haven’t been held in Europe since the Austrian event and have grown considerably since then. The 2012 Games in the USA comprised 15,000 competitors from 64 countries!

This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of one of the largest cultural and musical spectacles ever known - an experience the Cantate students will treasure for ever!

This year’s Riga Games promise to be the biggest yet. Cantate will be one of 4 choirs taking part from the United Kingdom, with approximately 450 choirs competing from around the globe - in fact, it's the biggest world event in choral music.

Cantate are taking 62 singers from 13 to 18 years old as a competition choir - good luck everyone!

To find out more about this local musical tour-de-force, make sure you check out their Trumpet Community Page. Why not join up and learn to sing? You could just find yourself a future world medalist!