He taught South Oxhey to sing in The Choir: Unsung Town and now Gareth Malone and the South Oxhey Community Choir are offering to pass on their skills to others as part of the Voices Now festival at The Roundhouse.

Wannabe divas can join in on a morning session, Come and Sing with Gareth Malone, where Gareth and the South Oxhey Community Choir will pass on a host of skills in this fun, informal event that’s especially for new singers.

In the afternoon, The South Oxhey Community Choir will strut its stuff in its own right with a cappella arrangements of music from Cheryl Cole and Van Morrison to Purcell under the baton of new musical director Simon Wookey.

Simon’s conducting career got off to a flying start when he won Kingston University’s prestigious conducting prize.

He started his association with South Oxhey Community Choir as associate conductor, working closely with Gareth Malone, preparing the choir for performances at the Watford Colosseum in 2009. Simon memorably conducted the choir and a stadium of fans in community singing at Saracens Rugby Club.

"It was freezing," recalls Simon. "It was just before Christmas and we lead the crowd in some carols."

Being both a conductor and a singer certainly helps Simon in his role with the choir. An accomplished tenor, he has sung the role of The Evangelist in Bach’s St John Passion for the Holst Chamber Choir and is associate music director of the acclaimed Holst Singers.

Simon teaches singing and violin for the London Borough of Harrow’s Music Service, and has worked for Harrow Young Musicians since 1994 and currently conducts the organisation’s symphony orchestra.

He says working with the people of South Oxhey has been an organic process.

"Gareth and I have a similar approach in what we expect and hope for. Quite often if I say, do it like this, they'll say 'oh yes, Gareth says that'.

"They're great to work with and are heading in a pretty good direction at the moment. They've got a very strong community spirit and the choir really does include people from all walks of life. Their enthusiasm, commitment and sheer joy of singing shines through."

The Voices Now Festival is at The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, Camden on Saturday, March 26. Sing with Gareth Malone at 11am, South Oxhey Choir performance at 1pm. Details: 0844 482 8008, www.voicesnow.org.uk