A musical treat in Luton

That was the verdict of the Tuesday Pictorial, a sister paper of the Luton News at the time.

The paper reported that more than 300 voices at the Royal Festival Hall were accompanied by the Band of the Irish Guards in their third ‘Blue Rhapsody’ programme.

The performers sang Eric Coates’ Song of Loyalty – a salute to Queen Elizabeth II. Money raised by the concert was donated to the National Children’s Home.

Internationally renowned Luton Girls’ Choir existed for 40 years and had more than 50 recordings to its credit.

Highlights included a Royal Command Performance at the London Palladium in 1948 and a tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1959.

The choir was developed by Arthur Davies and when he died in 1977, the trustees and girls decided that it could not continue without him.

Luton Choral Society started in 1866 and gave its first concert in 1871. Its 142nd season starts on Saturday, April 20, 2013 with a performance at St Andrew’s Church, Luton.