When a group of novice singers embarked on a choral music course, they never imagined they could sound so professional.

But last week’s summer concert by Tyndale Choral Society proved that the amateur singers had come on in leaps and bounds.

The Gazette has followed the progress of Miriam Yagud, from Dursley, and the other students of the ABC group: an Absolute Beginners’ Class run by Tyndale Choral Society since January.

After an article in the Gazette announcing the course, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world of choral singing, the choir was inundated with applicants and over 20 people joined the course.

We are just thrilled to bits with the response we have had to the class said Julia O’Connor-Beach, secretary for the society. When we organised the Absolute Beginners’ Class, not even in our wildest dreams did we imagine what a huge and positive impact it would have on the choir, both in terms of our sound and the wider life of the choir. There is no doubt at all that the ABCs have made a massive contribution.

Miriam, 51, who joined the ABC group as a music lover with no experience said she had noticed the improvement. My biggest barrier was not being able to read music, but standing and learning with the regular members of the choir has been a huge help. This has been a really great experience. It has been hard work but good fun as well.

Colin Levine,43, from Dursley, said: It has been a really fun experience. When we sing together as a group I just can't believe the sound we make.

The choir, including the graduated ABC students, performed their summer concert to an audience of 175 in Wotton-under-Edge and will perform their next concert in November.