A St Dogmaels singing group is celebrating eight years of music, melody and merry making.

In 2007 St Dogmaels resident, Marion Archer, put up a poster round the village asking if anybody was interested in getting together and singing. The response was phenomenal, with 27 people ringing her almost immediately.

From those small beginnings the group has gone from strength to strength, often attracting forty plus singers to the weekly sessions. It also runs popular singing days through the not for profit community organisation Singing Village.

The group often performs at events in the local community, as well as raising awareness of causes close to their hearts through song; Next month, along with many hundreds of other singers from all over Wales, it will travel to Cardiff to sing for Water Aid. Last year St Dogs singers were part of a concert for Syrian refugees at Newport Memorial Hall.

“The Thursday night group gives anybody the opportunity to sing,” said Marion. “Even if they have always been told they shouldn’t or they can’t. A lot who sing with us have been told that, including myself.”

The group currently has three teachers, all of whom teach a seven week stint and bring with them a variety of songs and musical styles.

Their sessions begin with a physical and vocal warm up before going on to learn and rehearse an assortment of songs in a range of different languages.

“Physically it is really good for you,” said Marion. “We do a lot of breathing exercises and a good warm up. It’s really good for your brain as well, to learn songs in different languages and to learn different parts and harmonies.”

The group is very informal and welcoming; participants are welcome to sing whichever part they are comfortable with for any song and there is no audition process or formal choir set up.

“We don’t mind if you sing out of tune,” said Marion. “The important thing is to sing. We are not asking to be madly famous or win competitions.

“People come here and make friends and really enjoy themselves. We’ve got people who come here from all over.

“What a group of people with mixed abilities and backgrounds can produce is exhilarating and amazing.”

Marion is also happy to share her knowledge on how to set up a singing group with other communities.

“Every community needs a singing group,” she said. “”If anybody wants to do it I’ll tell them how it worked for us. You need to find a teacher and a venue, and put it out there. It’s not that much work to keep running.”

The St Dogmaels Singing Group meets every Thursday night from 7pm until 9pm at St Thomas Church Hall. For more information ring Marion on 07887793721.