Rushmoor Odd Fellows Male Voice Choir appointed Sarit Aloni as musical director on January 18 following the retirement of Stephen Petch after 21 years.

Sarit is a highly-qualified musician with a distinguished background in Israel, Italy and Canada who has now made the UK her home. She is recognised as a choral conductor, singer, pianist, choral arranger, music teacher and voice teacher.

As well as founding and leading choirs in Italy, Canada and the UK, Sarit has performed in many concerts, including as a soloist in front of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 2004.

She also arranges and composes music, with her most recent composition performed at St Martin in the Fields in London and broadcast live on BBC radio.

Announcing the appointment, Odd Fellows chairman Peter Viveash said: “We are indeed very fortunate to have found Sarit and are delighted she has accepted the challenge of continuing the development of the choir.

“Sarit’s undoubted musical talents are bound to take us forward for both the benefit of the guys in the choir and also our audiences.”

Sarit said: “I really look forward to working together, getting to know the lovely chaps in the Odds, and I am very excited about all the prospective songs, concerts and music making.”

Sarit’s Odds conducting debut will be at St Peter’s Church in Wrecclesham on February 18 at 3pm.