A Farnham choir has started 2025 on a high note after reaching the national final of Classic FM competition.

The sweet sound of Vox Farnham Chamber Choir was heard around the UK in December as they graced the final of a Christmas carol competition.

Finalists in the competition organised by Making Music had recordings of their renditions of Christmas carols played on Classic FM over the festive period.

The group made the final five with young local chorister Freddie Simpson impressing judges and listeners.

“We were very excited to find out our recording of O Holy Night featuring Freddie on the solo line had made it to the final group of five,” said Vox chair, Robert Taylor.

“We knew our recording of O Holy Night in St Andrew’s Church, Farnham, had gone well, with Freddie singing beautifully with the choir.

“We were very pleased that all our efforts had come to a nationwide radio broadcast on Classic FM.”

He added: “Our Director of Music, Robert Lewis, has coached Freddie for some time as he reached the final of the BBC’s Young Chorister of the Year competition in 2023 and had an interview on BBC’s South Today programme.

“We had to do a couple of recording sessions, as Freddie had been suffering from a cold, but thanks to the flexibility of St Andrew’s Church in Farnham, our recording engineer, Tom Mungall, and our organist, Julian Cooper, we got the soundtracks we needed.”

The choir consists of more than 20 experienced singers and rehearses in St Thomas on The Bourne.

They present “highly varied” concert programmes two or three times a year with their next performance being their spring concert on April 5.

For more details visit www.voxchoir.online or look for Vox Chamber Farnham Choir on Facebook.