TWO new choirs in Stourbridge are hitting the right notes - and hope to encourage more budding songsters to join.

The Stourbridge Community Pop Choir and Stourbridge Show Choir has proved to be big hits since being formed by musician Simon Whitmore.

"Singing is a fantastic way to relax and just enjoy being in the moment," Simon says.

"I’m passionate about getting people singing together and enjoying the collective experience of working as a team to create something that sounds good.

"The choirs are all about making music together, making new friends and having fun and raising money for charity.

"The choirs are always really relaxed with lots of laughter and with all the health benefits that go with it.”

Simon studied music at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and graduated in 1997 with a first class honours degree and has spent the last 20 years as a performer and a music educator.

Since 2012, he has been the director of the Music Hub which runs community choirs in the West Midlands region.

He added: “I currently have more than 300 people singing in the choirs that I run and the numbers just keep going up and up.

"The pop choirs sing an up to date repertoire including famous pop songs from today and classic songs from the charts from decades gone by. I also run a show choir which sing everybody’s favourite songs from all the musicals.”

The Pop Choir has 50 members and has recently raised £1,200 for Mary Stevens Hospice at their first ever concert.

The choirs meet at St James Church Hall, Wollaston. The Pop Choir rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 7-8pm and the Show Choir meets on Tuesday mornings 10am-11am.

Visit www.music-hub.co.uk for more details or contact Simon on 07904 556763.