TWO Christmas carol concerts mark the start of the festive season for many St Albans fans of the Bach Choir. They are being held on Saturday at St Albans Abbey with the family concert, designed very much with small children and young families in mind, beg

TWO Christmas carol concerts mark the start of the festive season for many St Albans fans of the Bach Choir. They are being held on Saturday at St Albans Abbey with the family concert, designed very much with small children and young families in mind, beginning at 3pm and the evening concert starting at 7pm.

The family concert will feature favourite children's carols and pre-concert entertainment by Tooty Frooty while in a new departure for the Bach Choir, the evening concert will feature seasonal readings as well as the traditional mix of much-loved old favourites and modern classics.

There is a guest slot for St Columba's College Bell Choir and the audience for both concerts will have plenty of opportunities to join in.

Proceeds from the concerts are going to support St Albans Child Contact Centre, which helps children of families affected by divorce or separation to keep in contact with absent parents, and Youth Talk which provides free counselling for distressed children and young people in St Albans.

Former Assistant Master of the Music at the Abbey, Andrew Parnell, returns to play the organ and the choir will be joined by the ensemble Alberti Brass. Abbey Master of the Music Andrew Lucas conducts.

Tickets are available on the door only with adults �5 and children �1 for the family concert and �10 with concessions �5 for the evening concert.