A LITTLE after 5pm today, nearly 700 volunteer singers will rehearse together for the third time, and the first time with an orchestra.
At 6pm, it's show time.
The Royal Concert Hall tonight hosts the third Drivetime Concert, an event by the Hallé Orchestra that aims to appeal to first-time classical concert-goers with a mixed programme of well-known classical works and popular film scores.
One feature of the concert is the Drivetime Choir, a hundreds-strong singing group made up entirely of volunteers who accompany the orchestra on two pieces.
"If everybody turns up we'll have about 700, which will be our biggest choir yet," said Neil Bennison, music programme manager for the concert hall and Theatre Royal.
In years past, the choir and orchestra have performed two well-known choral pieces. This year they'll do one well-known one – Handel's Hallelujah chorus from Messiah – and one newly-commissioned world premiere.
We Strive For the Stars is written by The Hallé's Steve Pickett and based on a stanza from Lord Byron's Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.
"You've got to try to find something that's manageable with two rehearsals, but that has something spectacular and a wow factor to it," Mr Bennison said.
"It's the biggest challenge for the choir. The harmonies are quite rich. This is going to test people like never before."
As the big volunteer choir limbered up their vocal chords and got stuck into their second rehearsal on Wednesday, several singers said the new work was challenging.
Pip Bateman, from Newstead, who heard about the Drivetime show through her involvement in Nottingham People's Choir, said it was interesting because all the singers were in the same boat. "It's new for everybody," she said.
The Drivetime Concert itself is also relatively new. The first one happened in 2009. Then, after several years off, the Royal Concert Hall brought it back last year. In addition to the Manchester-based Hallé Orchestra, the volunteer singing group is augmented by several of the region's top choirs.
The Drivetime Choir will perform from the front of the hall, while above and behind the stage will be the Nottingham Harmonic Choir and the East of England Singers.
But when it comes time to deliver the good, all eyes will be on the singers at the front of the hall. For many, that's an exciting prospect.
Jason Loh, from West Bridgford, said he hadn't done much choral singing recently. But through this experience, he's caught the bug again.
"It's been great," he said. "I've never been in a choir this big before."
The Drivetime Concert is tonight at 6pm at the Royal Concert Hall. Tickets are £7.50 with a £20 family ticket for up to two adults and two children. Book at the box office on 0115 989 5555 or at trch.co.uk.