A BEAUTY therapist from Appleton is reliving the days of her youth after being accepted into the prestigious Hallé Choir.

Tracey Adlem, who was a member of Manchester Girls' Choir when she was eight, has been in training since October in the Hallé Academy and has now graduated after three auditions.

The Bellcast Close resident said: "When you’re doing an audition that’s nerve-wracking enough – you feel like you want a gin and tonic after it.

"But going into the Hallé when you know they all have experience in a very high profile choir, I’ve got to say I was like a rabbit in headlights at the first session as I didn’t know what they were expecting from me.

"But they sat with me and talked me through everything. I had a mentor who was asking if I was alright and was really encouraging.

"I’d never really studied music so I didn’t have a clue about sight reading and what I was looking for.

"It was like learning to read as a child all over again but within a few months I got to know music. I really had to work at it but it’s opened up a whole new life. It’s amazing."

Tracey has so far worked with the choir on recording Verdi's Requiem with the BBC Philharmonic.

The 47-year-old added: "I was in awe. It was jaw dropping because when you go into the studio the acoustics makes it feel like the orchestra is right behind you.

"We had a lovely comment to say how well we’d done with that piece."

Now Tracey is preparing for her first concert with the Hallé performing Missa Solemnis, considered one of the hardest pieces you can sing in a choir.

The performance is at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Saturday, June 6.

Tracey said: "It’s going to be a big concert and Sir Mark Elder is going to be conducting it. I can’t wait. I’m a little bit nervous but I’m so excited.

"It’s exhilarating. It feels a bit like when you’re singing in the shower at the top of your voice and nobody’s listening.

"Because it’s a very powerful choir you feel like you can really belt it out.

"It’s a really nice release. It’s a good feeling to sing with lots of people who are like-minded

"They are all very supportive but very strict as well. God forbid you do something wrong. The conductors have such good ears because it is their life. I’m frightened to death of them."

Despite Tracey's slight fear of conductors, she reckons more people should sing and described being a member of the Hallé Choir as therapeutic.

She added: "So many people say they can't sing but they can. It’s like how Gareth Malone gets these unlikely choirs together and then they belt these songs out.

"You can find something inside yourself. When I was in the academy some people’s voices would stick out and it’s just amazing how the Hallé would gel it all together.

"It’s an honour to be accepted into something as prestigious as the Hallé Choir. It’s nice to think that they value me enough to fit in."

DAVID MORGAN