THE lively ladies of Pembrokeshire vocal group, Bella Voce, are on song for a high-profile London performance.

The four-part choir has been hand-picked to take centre stage at the Royal Albert Hall at the 2018 Welsh Association of Male Choirs Festival of Massed Voices.

The invitation to the event was handed to Bella Voce musical director Sarah Benbow at the end of their performance in the recent concert for Pembrokeshire charity HOPE at St. David’s Cathedral.

“We were trying to be rather reserved - we were in a cathedral, after all - but we were just so excited,” said Sarah, who set up Bella Voce with fellow Pembrokeshire music teacher, Lisa Shelmerdine Richards, in 2013.

Unknown to Bella Voce, Pembroke Male Choir had put the girls’ name forward for the only nominated slot in the festival. And the performance invitation was confirmed after a member of the Welsh Association of Male Choirs visited one of their concerts to hear them sing.

“It’s a bit early to say what we’ll be performing, although there has been a special request for our version of Calon Lan,” said Sarah.

Bella Voce - whose name means Beautiful Voice - has been delighting ever-growing audiences throughout Pembrokeshire with its eclectic repertoire, which spans time from 14th century to Frozen.

The 16 members are nearly all music teachers, boasting around a dozen music degrees and over 30 instrumental and vocal Grade 8s between them.

The group also prides itself on its signature collection of brightly-coloured shoes.

“They’re a great bunch of girls - all strong, professional, musical women, and there may be only 16 of them, but they make a sound big enough to fill the Albert Hall,” said Sarah. “It’s such a pleasure to stand in front of them as their musical director, because they are all so talented.”

Upcoming performances for Bella Voce include Manorbier Castle on August 4, and at the weddings of two of their members.

There are also plans to record a cd in the autumn.

For more information and to hear Bella Voce sing, see Bella Voce on Facebook