IT was a night of surprises with songs old and new, when Dursley Male Voice Choir presented their annual concert at the town's Chantry Centre.

The first part opened with a new piece, As Long as I Have Music, followed by the well-known Colours of My Life. But the highlight of this section was a new Frank Sinatra medley - a brilliant tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes and one that is sure to be requested again and again.

After a Haydn piece by guest soloist, trumpeter John Watkeys, the choir sang old favourite, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Tennyson's dark poem Charge of the Light Brigade arranged by musical director Barrie Cooper, another new piece the gentle Coming Home (also arranged by the talented Barrie Cooper) finishing with the stirring American Trilogy.

At the beginning of the second part, eagle-eyed members of the audience immediately noticed that the choir was not in its usual arrangement. They had swapped places so that the various "voices" were mixed-up to give a completely unusual sound.

In this formation they sang Saints Go Marching In, Let It Be Me and You Raise Me Up - all familiar, but somehow sounding quite different. And the audience, mesmerised by this sterophonic wall of amazing sound, just loved it.

Two more pieces on the trumpet by first class player John Watkeys was followed by African Trilogy, partly sung in Zulu, the amusing Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor, and two particular favourites, Grandfathers Clock and Hava Nagila - the latter sung in Hebrew accompanied on the piano by both Barrie Cooper and principal accompanist Robert Burgess, with assistant musical director Brian Parslow conducting. A fitting end to another great concert.

With the excellent Terry Pascoe away, the concert compere was proud choir chairman Tim Pearce.

In the audience were appreciative visitors from across the world, so it is to be hoped that the people of Dursley recognise and support the choir which has put their town firmly on the international musical map.