Choirs from across the Midlands and the North are competing to become a Choir of the Day in their category and progress to the next round of the national competition. Choirs will be judged on performance, technique and quality of sound.

Area Selection Days are open to the public to hear the singing and the verdict of the judges.

SOSA-XA!, formed more than six years ago to raise funds for linked African charities, are due to appear at 2pm. All their songs are choreographed which makes them unusual in the competition and Mandla Sibanda also is probably the first Southern African to enter the iscathamiya performance style into the competition. Iscathamiya means to tip toe back and forth like a leopard. The group will sing Ingwe which means leopard and was originally composed by Mandla Sibanda for the Crucible Theatre production of Leopard in 2008.

Kinder Children's Choir and Kinder Junior Singers from the Peak District are also among the 20 choirs competing.