A CHOIR of Olympic proportions is being assembled from young people all across the country in the run up to the 2012 Games.

Three local youths are among the lucky 120 to participate in what will be the official youth choir for the Olympic Games next year.

Coral Norton, 16, and Dan White, 18, pupils at Highcliffe School and Sam Gibbins, 19, a performing arts student at Southampton University were chosen from nearly three thousand hopefuls nationwide.

Sam Gibbins who hopes to perform in the West End one day has enjoyed singing from an early age, he said: “I can’t believe we have been chosen, I don’t think it has quite sunk in yet. It has been a long process but I’m glad that three of us has made it through, it’s a once in a life time opportunity.”

He added: “Sandie, our singing teacher has been incredible we wouldn’t be here without her.”

The three singers are part of a local group in Christchurch known as The Funky Little Choir Co, established by Sandie Elkins in 2007.

Miss Elkins, 36,a senior singing teacher in local schools originally accompanied 17 members from her choir to auditions held in March in Convent Gardens, London.

In the audition process the children had to participate in a round of workshops, they were split into groups of twenty with an appointed vocal coach and judged on their performances over five sessions.

She said: “The judges were looking for strong voices that would blend well in a group, and people who could work well in a team.”

Six members of the Funky Little Choir received a call-back in April from these auditions to make the final 200. Last week the choir was notified that three of the finalists had been successful.

Miss Elkins told the Echo: “They are so excited. It’s a historic event and a fantastic opportunity, I’m delighted for them. Singing in the Funky Little Choir has given them plenty of experience. They appeared in last year’s Channel Five ‘Don’t stop believing’ competition coming third in their show.”

But the once in a lifetime opportunity will require the choralists to continue their hard work at three residential training workshops to be held in the next few months.

The Youth Choir will sing at national events in the Build up to the Olympics and be part of the week of the opening ceremonies.

It is part of the cultural Olympiad, encouraging a wide range of people to get involved in the London 2012 Games.