PRO Nobis Singers celebrate their 40th anniversary this year - and plan to do it in style with a large-scale performance.

Their Kendal Parish Church concert on Saturday, June 13 (7.30pm) will be packed with the power and ‘tingle’ factor associated with Clive Walkley’s ensemble, since he founded the choir in 1969.

Since, the singers have raised the roof on more than 100 concerts in Cumbria and beyond during four decades of music-making.

Early Music has long been at the core of the choir’s repertoire.

Clive told me that he’s always been attracted by “the beauty of the melodic lines, expressive chord progressions and the rhythmic vitality of the music,” created by 16th and 17th Century composers such as Alessandro Striggio and Francisco Valls.

However, Pro Nobis have also performed many 20th Century works and have given several first performances of works by modern composers, among them local composers Robin Field, Adrian Self and Chris Noble.

Over the years the singers have been fortunate to work with some outstanding professional musicians, among them international soprano Evelyn Tubb - who is the choir’s president – the Estonian composer, Veljo Tormis, Vox Animae and the distinguished recorder player, John Turner.

The June 13 concert continues the tradition.

Soloists include the Lancaster-born soprano, Julia Doyle, one of the outstanding young singers of her generation; internationally-renowned tenor - who hails from Sedbergh - Nicholas Hurndall Smith, and young bass/baritone Jonathan Millican, from Carlisle.

Many of the instrumentalists accompanying the singers also have local connections: among them distinguished Baroque violinist Deidre Ward, the trumpeter, Stella Fitzgerald, and organists, Ian Pattinson and Ann Bond.

Clive will augment the choir with extra singers for a performance of a rarely-heard 40-part motet by Striggio. Another rarely-heard work will also be on the bill - the magnificent Mass for Four Choirs by the Spanish composer Valls.

Clive said that grants from several local and national charitable bodies have made the concert possible, and the choir had been fortunate in obtaining £700 from the National Lottery-funded Awards for All grant.

I asked Clive what had been the main strengths of Pro Nobis: “The beauty and blend of the voices, and the singers' intelligent approach to music making.

“There is also a great sense of loyalty and a team spirit.

“And the humour that flies around helps to prevent rehearsals from becoming too intense!”

Tickets for the concert can be reserved by telephoning 01539-723482.