A gala concert featuring local schools and choirs is being held at the University of Herts this Saturday, March 28.

It will feature Sir John Lawes, St George’s and Beaumont School choirs and the hand bells from St Columbas College, along with Carillon and Jubilate Chamber Choirs.

The concert, which starts at 7.30pm, consists entirely of music by Timothy Blinko, composer and professor of music at the university. His music is a popular choice for choirs who regard it as very ‘singable’

The theme of the concert, Music of the Spheres, illustrates one of the influences on his compositions - the idea that the universe contains planets each with their own sound and resonance, created during the Big Bang.

Two young soloists, Elissa Street and Tom O’Learey, will be performing one of Prof Blinko’s works, Time Trace, after co-winning a young pianist competition held by Carillon.

Tom, a student at St George’s School in Harpenden, will be playing the piece from memory while Elissa’s winning composition in a complementary composition entitled The Cosmos will be performed by Jubilate.

Music of the Spheres is being performed in the university’s Weston Auditorium and tickets are available from 01707 281127 or go to www.ticketline.co.uk/venue/the-weston-auditorium.