With many MPs taking up the invitation to sing with the Choir for the first time, more House of Commons staff than ever before are turning their thoughts to keeping in tune with the boss. Peter Bottomley will, for example, be making a debut performance alongside his PA Libby Dewdney-Herbert, who has been a member of the Choir for well over a year. "Peter isn't a regular member of the Choir," says Libby, "but that's what will make this performance so unique - we're bringing together singers of all standards to allow them to enjoy music in a relaxed way."

For some members of the Choir, however, keeping in tune with the boss is standard practice. Katy Harbour, PA to Caroline Spelman, was one of the original members of the Choir. Following the Choir's inaugural performance in December 2000 she encouraged boss Caroline to join up. Since then the duo have been joined by another member of Caroline's staff and all three are currently working on the team's researcher to ensure that the Spelman office is fully represented!

"Admittedly it was slightly strange when Caroline first joined to be singing alongside my boss - and friends seemed to find it an odd concept - but, as everyone at Westminster knows, we don't exactly operate along 'normal' office lines! Even though I encouraged Caroline to join, choir practice did at first seem like an extension of work after she started attending rehearsals. However I soon found that the choir is an excellent 'switch-off' from work and a chance to completely focus on something else...well, apart from the division bell disrupting a few rehearsals!" said Katy

Katy and Caroline are not unique in enjoying the work/choir boss/employee partnership. Choir chairman Jonathan Sayeed and his research assistant John Hart, and Cheryl Gillan and her PA Liz Ballin are two other examples of such pairings.

In addition to the new boss/employee partnerships singing with the Choir for the first time, choristers from Scotland to Stour, and all across Britain, have signed up to join the regulars of the hundred-strong BT Government-sponsored Choir for the Invitation Messiah. The Choir will be accompanied by The City of London Sinfonia and the performance will feature internationally acclaimed soloists Catherine Wyn Rogers and Neal Davies. Completing the line-up and demonstrating the Choir's continued support of young musicians are solo performances from Guildhall School of Music and Drama graduates, Rebecca Outram and Benjamin Hulett.

The Parliament Choir, now in its third year, was formed by MPs and peers seeking to unite members of both Houses of Parliament with a common love of music, in an environment where traditional party divides cease to matter. Future performances include Haydn's Nelson Mass on Trafalgar Day in October and, by kind permission of the Speaker, the Choir is to perform the first concert to be held in Westminster Hall in 900 years next year.

With other plans for the year including working with an international record label to produce a recording of choral music and taking part in a Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, 2002 is set to be the most exciting year to date for the Parliament Choir.