Four local groups will perform a spring concert, by donation, at Crossroads Community Church next week.

On Thursday, April 22, the Community Choir, Community Band, After Hours Choir and the Children's Choir will perform a music program they have been preparing starting, at 7 p.m.

The Merritt Community Choir has gone through many changes over the years and currently is working with a stand in conductor, while their regular conductor has taken a sabbatical.

Their members range from trained musicians with the ability to read music, to those members with no formal training.

They cover a wide range of music from serious pieces to the more whimsical and are always willing to welcome new members with an interest in singing.

The choir usually puts on two concerts a year as well as performing for the various seniors' centres throughout the Nicola Valley.

The After Hours was a spin-off of the community choir with regular choir members meeting to do a little extra-curricular singing.

This all women group, which formed ten years ago, has nine members who perform a wide range of musical styles from classical to folk.

Merritt's Community Band was formed 15 years ago and its members range in age from high school students to retirees.

Currently, the band is under the direction of Colin Kerridge, the band teacher at Coquihalla Middle School, where he has been the conductor for the last nine years.

Kerridge has written and arranged an original composition to be performed during the concert, which is first the composition he has ever written for band.

“It is quite a feeling to create a piece of art, pass it along and then have a band play you your baby,” says Kerridge.

During the performance, Kerridge will be conducting as well as playing timpani during one of the compositions.

The Merritt Community Children's Choir will be rounding out the concert and consists of both boys and girls aged 6 to 13 who will perform five songs that have been selected for the evening.