Some of Cheshire’s bravest are warming up their vocal chords for a once in a lifetime performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall today (February 15).

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Choir, which formed in 2013 for the BBC series The Choir: Sing While You Work, travelled stateside after being invited by Welsh composer Paul Mealor to sing one of his songs in the concert Music of Joy and Sorrow.

The choir is one of 18 from around the world which will merge to perform the world premiere of Mr Mealor’s Jubilate Deo.

'Like a dream'

Members have already visited the prestigious Carnegie Hall to rehearse.

On their blog on the service’s website, they said: “As we entered the lobby we were met with a sea of heads and couldn’t quite believe we would soon be singing in the most famous concert hall in the world.

“It felt like a dream, standing alongside choirs from all over the world.”

Meeting American colleagues

While in the Big Apple, the choir has visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum and met FDNY firefighter colleagues at Ladder 10, Engine 10 – the fire station nearest to Ground Zero.

Asked by their American counterparts to sing for them there and then, the choir ‘raised the roof’.

“Singing The Rising to the FDNY firefighters was a performance we will never forget,” they blogged.