Music Features

The angelic voices of St Neots Riverside Singers waft over the spikey-haired head of the choir master. He's a well-known face to the youngsters and they're paying attention to his every word.

This choir is heading for the World Choir Games 2008 and their teacher for the day is Gareth Malone, he of the BBC2 series The Choir and The Choir - Boys Don't Sing.

Gareth gets the choir enthused...

But this lot DO sing. And in July, they're going to have to prove their vocal versatility in Austria, competing against some 400-plus choirs from 90 different countries. So, the chance to work with Gareth - who took his first 'TV choir' to China for last year's event - is not one to be sniffed at.

He is, after all, not just a 'telly star'. This unlikely heart throb is also the director of The London Symphony Orchestra's youth and community choirs. He's been involved in the choral education of kids since leaving college and works not only with the LSO, but many other organisations such as the English National Opera and the Royal Opera House.

His enthusiasm for singing is infectious: "It's great to see young people here really going for it and taking it seriously," he says.

Viewers of Gareth's two Choir series will know that this diminutive master doesn't suffer fools gladly. He's been criticised in the press for his attitude to some of the kids in the shows, but he's not having to face any of that when it comes to the Riverside choir.

"From the diaphragm..."

"I like people to take things seriously, and you know, if people are messing around, it's incredibly irritating, because I'm so passionate about what I do. And if others aren't, I just think, well, why don't you go and play football. If you really don't want to sing, then don't mess around - especially if you volunteered to do it."

The kids in the Riverside Choir certainly seemed enthusiastic and admitted that it was a great experience for them to work with someone who's already been to the Choir Games, so essentially knows the ropes, and knows what to expect.

They're serious about their singing, and you can listen to them tackling a bit of Simon and Garfunkel under the tutelage of Gareth, and watch them in front of the Look East cameras by clicking on the links below.