John Rutter is to hold a singing day with the Staxton Singers at Westborough Methodist Church on Saturday June 12.

He says: "What I most hope is that after it, if people aren't members of a regular choir, they'll join one. Communal activities like this are something we need to rediscover."

Rutter was awarded honorary fellowships of Westminster Choir College in the USA in 1980 and of the UK's Guild of Church Musicians in 1988.

In 1996 the Archbishop of Canterbury conferred a Lambeth doctorate of music on him because of his contribution to church music. In 2008, he was made an honorary bencher of the Middle Temple.

He is also an arranger and editor – his most famous work being the Carols for Choirs anthology, compiled in collaboration with Sir David Willcocks.

His compositions include Christmas carols, anthems and extended works such as a gloria, a magnificat and a requiem. In 2002 his setting of Psalm 150, commissioned for the Queen's golden jubilee, was performed at a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral. He has also written an opera for young people called Bang!

To take part in the singing day, go to the choir's website or send an SAE and a cheque for £12 (students £5), made payable to Staxton Singers, to 5 St John's Avenue, Scarborough, YO12 5EU.