What’s the connection between Quatermass author Nigel Kneale, singer/songwrtier Christine Collister, mathemetician Prof Martin Bridson FRS, First President of Tynwald Sir Charles Kerruish, singer and acress Samantha Barks, Olympic gold medallist Peter Kennaugh MBE and Isle of Man Choral Society?

The answer is that all except IOMCS are famous alumni of St Ninian’s High School (or its previous incarnation as Douglas High School).

So why include IOMCS?

Since last September, IOMCS has hired the assembly hall at St Ninian’s, Douglas, for its Thursday rehearsals for its next concert on April 2 at the Royal Hall, Villa Marina, Douglas, starting at 2.30pm, which will see it perform works of Mendelssohn - Second Symphony ’Hymn of Praise’, Mascagni - Easter Hymn from his opera Cavalleria Rusticana and one of the world’s finest living composers - John Rutter CBE whose Gloria will be sung.

The society is so happy with its new rehearsal facility that St Ninian’s will be its permanent home.

As normally happens at this concert, the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra, led by Tom Field joins the society and this year will be a first for the society in that Maurice Powell, musical director of Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra, will conduct the opening part of the Mendelssohn Second Symphony before Julian Power takes over to conduct the choir for The Hymn of Praise Lobgesang which forms the second part of Felix Mendelssohn’s equivalent of Beethoven’s Ninth, his Choral Symphony.

Mascagni’s Easter Hymn includes a second choir - Meadowside Choral Society which will sing from the circle near to the stage.

Rutter’s Gloria is a modern setting of the Gloria in Excelsis from the Latin Mass.

The soloists for this year’s Isle of Man Choral Society concert are Karen Elliott (soprano), Mandy Griffin (mezzo-soprano) and Richard Pollock (tenor) all of whom have sung before with the society.

To end the concert Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra will play Mascagni’s Intermezzo under the baton of its Musical Director Maurice Powell.

The concert is again sponsored by Tower Insurance and the concert net profit will this year go to Manx Wildlife Trust.

Tickets for the concert are available from the Villa Marina Box Office - Tel: 600555 or via the website www.villagaiety.com