The city's mayor will be putting her best singing voice to the test at the St Albans Gospel Festival at the Alban Arena on Sunday (March 16).

Councillor Annie Brewster has been practising for several weeks with the 40-strong St Albans Gospel Choir brought together by the Bazil Meade Gospel Music Academy.

The academy was set up in St Albans by the renowned Reverend Bazil Meade, one of the UK’s leading gospel musicians and founding director of the London Community Gospel Choir. He has performed with the likes of Elton John, Madonna, Jessie J, and Stevie Wonder.

The Academy launches officially on Sunday with a day of workshops and a gospel concert in the evening starting at 6.30pm. The St Albans Choir will perform four songs at the concert, joining with the celebrated London Community Gospel Choir to sing a grand finale. Money raised at the event will go to the mayor’s charity, The Living Room which provides treatment for addicts and support to their families.

Cllr Brewster, The mayor of St Albans City and District, says: “It is fantastic that someone of the calibre of Rev. Bazil Meade has chosen St Albans to launch his first academy and develop the St Albans Gospel Choir.

"I have had a brilliant experience training with the choir and learning to sing inspirational and uplifting gospel harmonies. Come along on Sunday and hear the choir sing with the well-known London Community Gospel Choir and help raise funds for the Living Room.”

Full details of the St Albans Gospel Festival are available here.