THIS year marks the 20th anniversary of Amabile Girls Choir.

Since soprano Charlotte Jackson founded the popular ensemble back in 1996, Amabile has gone from strength to strength, the girls' exquisite voices ringing out far and wide, winning awards and gaining a well-deserved reputation as one of the country’s leading youth choirs.

Celebrations are afoot and the talented performers are tuning up for their summer concert on Saturday, July 9 (7pm), at Kendal's St Thomas’ Church.

Fittingly, Charlotte - who stepped down as Amabile's artistic director in 2010 - returns to Kendal to conduct the performance.

Current director, Rachel Little, a talented and sought after soprano herself, is on maternity leave.

Amabile's musical milestone will also be celebrated with a Grand Ball to be held in October at Kendal’s Castle Green Hotel.

The choir has been chosen to join Brit Award winners, Blake on stage at their concert in Lancaster Grand Theatre in September, when the girls will sing with Blake, as well as performing one of their own songs from Stage and Screen.

Meanwhile, the girls are busy raising money to fund their tour of northern Spain in the summer of 2017.

The choir, together with its training choir, Poco Amabile (for girls aged between seven and 11), are auditioning for new singers and interested applicants will be invited to join a rehearsal.

Tickets for the summer concert are available online: http://amabile.co.uk/events/summer-concert.