BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year 2008 had over 200 entries and 135 choirs got through the Preliminary round and went on to compete live at venues across the UK. We are now building to the Category Final at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic on 8 - 9 November 2008 and the Grand Final at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 7 December 2008. The Grand Final will be broadcast by BBC Radio 3 and BBC FOUR.

The new Preliminary round, where choirs send in a recording either by CD or online, encouraged a diverse range of singing groups to enter the competition, with the Youth category by far the largest category. Stuart Barr, Area and National Selection Stage adjudicator said; "It's so good to see teenagers coming together to make music to such a high standard - it gets to the core of why music making is such a positive force for society."

Over 5,000 singers from choirs as diverse as Gospel and beat box are taking part in the competition, reflecting the range and depth of music making in communities across the UK.

BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year is the UK's largest national amateur group singing competition and is searching for the nation's best amateur singing group.

The BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year website has full details on this year's competition:

www.choiroftheyear.co.uk