TWELVE choirs joined forces to raise the roof at Monmouth Comprehensive School and raise funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Ukraine appeal.

The community event included performances from Monmouth Community Choir and choirs from Monmouth School for Boys and Monmouth Prep School and raised more than £1,255.

There were musical contributions from the comprehensive school (MCS) as well as the winners of Monmouth’s Got Talent Outrun The Rain.

Opening the evening were Monmouth’s Community Choir who sang a Ukranian Lullaby as well as songs by Tom Petty and The Cranberries.

The newly-formed Primary Schools’ Choir then made their debut performance with four musical pieces.

A set from the winners of ‘Outrun the Rain’ then sped up the tempo.

And afterwards it calmed back down with four sets from musicians from MCS followed by choirs from Monmouth Prep School and the boys’ school’s Chapel Choir.

The evening ended with all four choirs performing together.

Special thanks were paid to Amy Ritter, head of Performing Arts at MCS, David Lawson Director of Music at Monmouth School and Caractacus Downes, conductor of Monmouth Community Choir.

The accompanist for the Ukraine Children’s Choir in the summer term and for the concert was Annie Brennan.

Gwent Music helped to recruit children for the recently-formed ‘Sing for Ukraine Children’s Choir’.

Joe Walton, a key organiser, also thanked all the volunteers, “especially compere David Blair, Claudia Blair, who coordinated refreshments, and Dilly Boase for her wonderful poster design”.

Some Ukrainian families and their hosts were able to attend the event.