A GROUP of North Somerset singers will become the first ever UK show choir to perform at one of the most prestigious contests in the world.

Euphoria show choir, which rehearses at Fairfield School in Backwell, has been invited to appear at the National Show Choir Competition in New York after a film of one of their performances was spotted on the Internet.

The invitation is a huge achievement for the choir, which was formed just one year ago and is now made up of 25 members ranging in age from 12 to 31.

Musical director Rachel Walker from Congresbury said: “We will be the first UK show choir to perform at this competition.

“I received an email from one of the organisers. I couldn’t believe it, I thought it was a spoof.

“He said ‘when a choir as good as your’s pops up we take notice’.”

Euphoria was invited to perform at the New York contest in March 2012 after one of the organisers spotted a video on YouTube showing the choir performing with Britain’s Got Talent winners, Spelbound, in April at Bristol’s Colston Hall.

However, because the group will have to raise about �30,000 to fund the trip, they will wait another year and travel to New York and perform at the Lincoln Centre in March 2013.

Euphoria cannot compete in the contest as it is only for American choirs but the group will perform an exhibition set based around the theme of New York.

Euphoria sings a wide range of music including pop, rock and musical theatre. It is made up of pupils from Nailsea, Backwell, Churchill and Gordano schools as well as older members from across North Somerset.

It is coordinated by Rachel along with her co-directors and choreographers Tina Kelly from Cleeve and Emma Tobitt from Portishead.