HALLELUJAH - Oxford Town Hall was filled with the sound of 500 professional and amateur singers joining in Handel's great hymn of praise from Messiah.

They rehearsed all day with and without Oxford Sinfonia to unite under Ivor Setterfield's baton for an early evening broadcast on Sunday on Radio Oxford.

And for most the experience of singing together was a revelation.

Ellen Storey, from Oxford, had never sung Messiah before. She is a member of Oxford Gospel Choir and used to music completely different.

But, she said: "It was the first time I'd sung this chorus and it was a great experience."

Agreeing with her was Keya Guha (ok ok) from Oxford. She too sings with an amateur choir.

She said: "It was great - I thoroughly enjoyed the experience."

Cumnor Choral Society members Doreen Baker and Ann Day had sung Messiah several times.

Mrs Baker said: "It is something you never tire of - you never get blase about Messiah and the Hallelujah Chorus in particular."

Deirdre White, from Chinnor, said: "I read about this event, I love singing and I love Messiah so I thought it would be a good thing to join in.

"It was a tremendous experience, professionals and amateurs together singing for the sheer joy of singing.

"There's nothing like it in the world."

Mr Setterfield said he was thrilled at the standard and the enjoyment people felt in singing together.

He had formed a choir out of people from Blackbird Leys and taken them to the Royal Albert Hall in a television series.

They then performed before the Queen and many are still singing as a group.

Mr Setterfield said: "I wanted to come back a year later and find out if music had helped them, changed their lives or anything.

"The idea for the mass Hallelujah Chorus came from that idea and the core members of the Blackbird Leys choir were taking part.

"The programme The Singing Estate brought classical music to a wider audience and many of the people here had seen it.

"I believe it has increased the base of people who simply enjoy singing."

He said: "It was wonderful to see the co-operation between the professional and amateur singers.

"The professionals helped in a totally open way. It was marvellous."

Sunday's event was part pof the Fivearts Cities project, taking place in Oxford over the next 12 months. Details on the www.five.tv/fiveartscities website.