SING your hearts out for a very worthy cause.

SING your hearts out for a very worthy cause.

That was the call today to the people of Suffolk as preparations for a festive family musical extravaganza in aid of the Somebody's Daughter appeal gathered pace.

The popular Ipswich Choral Society will be hosting Ipswich Sings Christmas at the Corn Exchange on Saturday, December 20.

Concert organisers today promised an uplifting mix of traditional carols and music to get the county into the festive spirit.

All proceeds from the event will go to Somebody's Daughter, a registered charity launched by The Evening Star and Ipswich Borough Council in late 2006 to support vulnerable young people.

Ipswich Choral Society will be joined by the Salvation Army Band and school choirs from Grundisburgh Primary, St Margaret's Primary and East Bergholt High.

There will even be a special performance from The Suffolk Deaf Association Signing Choir, who will be using sign language to spread a little Yuletide happiness.

The choral society's Martin Nightingale said: “Most people will be out doing their Christmas shopping during the day so they should be really feeling Christmassy by the evening.

“Come and hear some beautiful music and join in singing some favourite Christmas carols.”

To make this year's concert even more special, writer and broadcaster Rachel Sloane is to comp?re the evening's events.

Mr Nightingale said: “There will also be surprise guest appearances by local celebrities, so book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.”

The concert kicks off at 7.30pm.

Tickets are priced at £7 for adults, £5 for concessions and £2 for children.

For more information, call Irene Brunning on 01473 735481. Alternatively, to book tickets, call the Corn Exchange box office on 01473 433100 or e-mail corn@ipswich-ents.co.uk

Are you getting into the Christmas spirit? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Win tickets to the Christmas spectacular:

If you would like to be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to Ipswich Sings Christmas, simply answer the following question:

In the song the Twelve Days of Christmas, how many golden rings did my true love send to me?

Send your answers along with your name, address and phone number to Ipswich Sings Christmas, c/o Josh Warwick, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk

Ipswich Choral Society:

The society is a mixed choir of some 70 members.

It is the second oldest choral society in England, having been formed in 1824 by a group who gave the first provincial performance of Haydn's Creation in their first concert.

The society performs regularly at Snape Maltings, the Corn Exchange, Ip-Art Festival and the Aldeburgh Festival, as well as further afield in Arras, Istanbul and Austria.

Weblink: www.ipswichchoral.com

How to donate to the Somebody's Daughter appeal:

Donations to the memorial fund can be made online at www.eveningstar.co.uk, in person at Ipswich Borough Council's customer service centre in the Town Hall, by calling 01473 433777, or by sending a cheque, made payable to Somebody's Daughter Memorial Fund, to PO Box 772, Ipswich Borough Council, Grafton House, 15-17 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2DE.

Alternatively, you can buy a charity pin badge for £1. Call Josh Warwick on 01473 324840 to find out how.