After the downpours, get ready for a ‘Summer of Love’ in Helston.

This will be the title for the June concert of Helston Chamber Choir, which is now in rehearsals once again after a brief break following their winter concert.

However, for the first time, it will be up to members of the public to help choose the programme of songs, which will relate to love.

For a “modest” annual fee, people can join the newly established ‘Friends of Helston Chamber Choir’ which will allow ‘friends’ a chance to take part in various choir activities, including putting forward suggestions for future programmes, together with discounted concert tickets.

Choir members are currently debating the final choice of programme with new choirmaster Rico Gerber.

Two contenders for the main piece are Johannes Brahms’ toe-tapping Liebesleider Waltzes, against a set of five Hebrew love poems set to music by the young American composer Eric Whitacre.

Rehearsals are also beginning for a concert version of Pietro Mascagni’s one-act opera Cavalleria Rusticana, over the Easter weekend.

For this they will be joined by two other choirs, for the first time: Marazion Apollo Male Voice Choir and the Mabe Ladies Choir, plus musicians and soloists from the New Cornwall Opera Group.

The choir is always looking for new members, in particular men. There are no auditions, although some knowledge of music reading is useful but not essential.

The choir meets every Tuesday evening at the music block in Helston Community College, between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Visit www.|helstonchamberchoir.co.uk or the choir’s Facebook page.