CHESHIRE Chord Company are heading to Russia for a week of singing and sightseeing.

Warrington’s award-winning barbershop chorus, under the direction of Joanne Braham, will be joining their coach Jack Pinto and his group, Brothers in Harmony, from New Jersey, USA, at the Barbershop Music Festival in St Petersburg.

They will be performing in a number of prestigious venues, including St Petersburg State Capella, St Petri-Kirche Church, and the Philharmonic Hall.

Throughout the week, the singers will of also be doing some sightseeing and visiting many landmarks including Peter and Paul Fortress, Peterhof Palace and Gardens and the Grand Palace.

Rachel Sheldon, from Cheshire Chord Company, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the chorus, and a rare chance to experience a very different culture to our own.

“This trip has been in planning for around two years and we’re very excited to finally get there.”

Wives, girlfriends and daughters of Bolton male voice choir Cottontown Chorus formed Cheshire Chord Company in the backroom of the Jolly Thresher in Lymm in 1993.

Since then they have gone from strength to strength taking home a prize in every national competition they have entered.

Rachel added: “As a member of the Ladies’ Association of British Barbershop Singers we have competed very successfully in UK and European barbershop competitions over many years and are proud to have been the National Ladies UK Champions seven times, with our most recent win in 2014.

“In October 2016, we were delighted to be named silver medallists, gaining our highest score.”