Preparations for the planned 2007 grand finale of this musical and visual spectacular are already well-advanced, with community groups and people of all ages coming together to share their memories, their experiences and their hopes for the future of Bradford, a city which has seen its fair share of problems over recent years.

Choir practice...

For 2005, the creators of Bradford The Musical have commissioned five special pieces of music written by local composers taking styles as diverse as Celtic, Asian, Techno, Gospel, choral and folk to evoke 'a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences'. The first performance will take place at the launch of the Bradford Festival on Friday June 17th (6.30pm) and the Bradford Mela in Peel Park on Saturday June 18th (1pm).

Bradford The Musical's 200-strong choir will be interpreting these very different styles of music through five specially commissioned pieces from four Yorkshire composers looking at life in and around the district.

If you want a taster then look no further! Take a look at the lyrics of the numbers specially composed for the 2005 Festival.

Taking part in the special choir will be Bradford University Choir, Bradford Voice and the Silsden Singers, a community choir based unsurprisingly in Silsden.

The Silsden Singers are led by folk singer and songwriter Janet Russell, who is also co-ordinating Bradford The Musical's choir. She says: "It's great for the Silsden Singers to be getting involved in Bradford The Musical and join so many othe rpeople on stage. They gain the experience of working with other artists, the chance to try out different musical styles and, of course, have a great time."

Silsden Singer David Williams adds: "The music is stretching us technically but it is enormous fun. I think Bradford The Musical is a marvellous idea. The Silsden Singers are joining people of all ages, from different communities, for what should be a fantastic open-air show."

The choirs will be joined on stage by students from Beckfoot, Hanson, Oakbank and Holy Family secondary schools as well as younger children from Oakworth, Lapage, Hill Top and Shirley Manor primary schools.

The choirs will be accompanied by drummers and dancers.

Bradford The Musical hopes to grow even bigger and next year community groups from every corner of Bradford are to be invited to tell their stories.

There's now just two years to go before the grand finale when a complete musical will be performed at a large-scale venue, such as Valley Parade, by thousands of people.