CHORISTERS are tuning up for a two-week trip to Altena, Blackburn's German twin town.

Deputy head chorister at Blackburn Cathedral, Alex Barnes, received a £850 cheque from Blackburn with Darwen mayor Coun Peter Greenwood to help pay for the boys' journey.

The choristers will perform in several concerts with pieces by Monteverdi, Brahms, Byrd, Gibbons, Rachmaninov and other composers.

One of the highlights will be their performance in a service in the Catholic church of St Laurentius Plettenburg on July 20.

But the youngsters can expect much more than music from their visit to Altena. A tour of the large inland harbour at Duisburg and trips to an outdoor folk museum have also been arranged.

And the choirboys' soccer team, Blackburn Cathedral Rovers, will play against a German team.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.