A MEMBER of a York choir will join TV choirmaster Gareth Malone to perform at the Royal Albert Hall this weekend.

Sarah Saunders, of the Military Wives Choir York, will travel to London to take part in a special Prom to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

The sell-out concert, which has been organised by the BBC, will see 100 members of 42 Military Wives Choirs from around the country take to the stage on Sunday, along with life-size puppets from the National Theatre's production of Michael Morpurgo's War Horse.

Sarah, from Strensall, said: "I am delighted to be performing in the Proms Military Wives Choir and extremely honoured to be part of this very special event. It’s really appropriate that the concert will also remember the role that women and music played during the First World War. I hope that we will do our families and The Military Wives Choir proud."

The journey of the choirs to the event will be made into a two-part documentary while will be shown on the BBC later this year.

Sarah said she was sad to be leaving the York choir, but was grateful for the friendship and support she had received from the group.

She said: "Unfortunately, as is inevitable within military life, I am currently in the midst of moving with my family to Catterick Garrison.

"However, I will remain loyal to the Military Wives Choir York and will join them at every opportunity, as part of my heart will always remain here in this wonderful city, with my choir sisters who have become some of my closest friends."

The Military Wives Choirs Foundation works with wives, partners and servicewomen from Navy, Royal Marine, Army and RAF families at military bases across Britain and overseas.

For more information go to miltarywiveschoirs.org or email york@militarywiveschoirs.org