One of America's leading school choral groups will be performing at the National Gallery this Thursday.

Members of the Shendandoans -- the main choir from Shenandoah Valley Academy, Virginia -- currently on vacation in Bermuda, will be at centre stage for this month's Gallery series of concerts.

While their repertoire specialises in religious music, especially large choral works, they also sing secular pieces, including well-known choruses from the opera.

In recent years they have performed Handel's Messiah, The Creation by Haydn, Schubert's Mass in G and Puccini Missa de Gloria.

The Shenandoans, led by directors Aldemar Wensell and Bruce Wilson, have performed in all principal US cities and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and on radio and TV. Recently, they toured Norway, where they gave a special presentation at the American Embassy in Oslo.

The National Gallery concert will include music by Mendelssohn, Schubert, John Rutter, Handel and Rossino, negro spirituals and opera music by Strauss and Donizetti.

The Shendandoans in Concert will take place at the National Gallery on Thursday, April 22, from 5.30 to 7.30 p.m. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Tickets at $10 ($7 for members) are available in advance from the Gallery or at the door.