Only Women Aloud choir in Swansea

Some of the members of Only Women Aloud

First there was Girls Aloud, then Only Men Aloud - now Swansea has produced Only Women Aloud.

And the organisers are keen that this new choir's repertoire should be popular songs.

Little surprise then that one of their first numbers will be, Here Come The Girls.

The idea for the choir came from vocal workshops in Bonymaen with the musical director of the Morriston Phoenix Choir Sian Pearce.

When the funding for those workshops ended the women wanted to continue singing.

Ms Pearce said: "I've been involved in the last six years conducting male voice choirs, and after concerts, many women have come up to me and asked whether I would start up a choir for women to take up the gauntlet and give the men a run for their money!"

"I was very aware that there were already very good women's choirs in Wales but their profiles weren't that high in general, either in Wales or the wider world."

"I gave it some thought, and decided to try and change this by bringing a choir for women in the area who wanted to sing a modern repertoire; both to appeal to younger women and also in the hope that this will be attractive to a wider audience in general."

The first rehearsal filled me with great excitement and hope Sian Pearce

She is hoping that ultimately there will be around 45 to 50 members in Only Women Aloud.

And would-be choristers who think they would like to join are invited to attend the choir's rehearsals on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm in St Margaret's Church, Bonymaen, Swansea.

Ms Pearce said: "The first rehearsal filled me with great excitement and hope, as the sound that was produced was very encouraging."

So are they hoping for the level of success enjoyed by their male counterparts - Only Men Aloud?

"That's what we're aiming for - how far it goes depends on how many people join us and the level of commitment," said Ms Pearce, who was formerly the musical director of the Morriston Orpheus.

"It's just something I'm so passionate about - to get people who enjoy singing to get as professional as they can."