THE Hills Choir is celebrating 40 years of music and community in the Perth Hills, with two special events planned to mark the milestone anniversary.

Founded in 1986 with just six women rehearsing in a private home in Mundaring, the choir has grown into a long-running community group made up of singers aged from 16 to 92.

Choir president Jon Hope said the anniversary celebrations would reflect both the history of the choir and its connection to the hills community over the past four decades.

The celebrations will begin with a short documentary screening on Saturday, May 16 at the Uniting Church in Mundaring, featuring live performances from choir members and guest artists.

The choir will then hold its 40th anniversary concert on Sunday, June 14 at the Eastern Hills Senior High School auditorium in Mt Helena.

Under the direction of musical director Storme Reeves and past conductors, the concert will feature a mix of sacred, secular and modern choral music alongside guest performers.

The choir said it had performed at countless community events, festivals and concerts across the hills since its first public performance at a Maundy Thursday service in the Mundaring Shire Council Chambers.

Over the years rehearsals have been held at venues including Mundaring Primary School and the Mundaring Uniting Church, where the choir still rehearses today.

While originally formed as a small women’s choir, the group has evolved into a mixed community choir singing four-part harmony across a broad repertoire.

The Hills Choir also acknowledged the continued support of the Shire of Mundaring, the Bendigo Community Bank Mundaring and local community organisations.

Tickets for the anniversary concert are available online at https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1565226

More information about the choir and anniversary events can be found through the Hills Choir website http://hillschoir.org.au/