A top UK university has proven recently that involvement in community singing projects is significant in helping improve mental health.

Pembrokeshire arts organisation Span Arts is hoping to help tackle those winter blues by hosting a wide range of singing workshops, led by a breadth of musical masterminds and captivating a cappella groups.

Organised as part of the annual Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival, workshop hosts will include winning a cappella ensemble The Sons of Pitches - from Garath Malone’s The Naked Choir, and the world-renowned South African Zulu Males Choir, who have performed to Nelson Mandela.

Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, conducted a year-long research project starting December 2014, to discover how regular community singing affected mental health.

The study proved that by offering social interaction and peer support, the singing groups vastly helped improve the mental health conditions of those taking part.

Span Arts manager, Gwen Watson, is not surprised by the results.

“We always get such positive feedback from our festival go-ers, whether they’re seasoned singers, or people trying something for the first time, most people leave with massive smiles on their faces,” she said.

“There’s something so uplifting about all singing together. And of course often in a new language, or making new sounds. Last year a group of us learnt how to do Mongolian throat singing! There was a lot of laughter in the room!”

The workshops, which are open to all ages and abilities, have a track record of delivering the positive benefits of social interaction and community inclusion, as well as allowing those attending to learn and practice musical creations inspired by a range of countries, cultures and vocal traditions.

This year, the only a cappella festival in Wales also presents workshops from musical masterminds such as Michael Deason-Barrow - one of the world’s leading authorities on global vocal techniques, harmonic Welsh folk duo Ffynnon, and Colombian singer Camilo Menjura.

Plus there will be the opportunity to learn and perform a special piece of music to mark 50 years since the tragedy of Tryweryn, composed by workshop leader Seimon Morris.

All workshops have been designed to encourage people from all across Wales - to make beautiful music using just their vocals, and beat those dreary winter blues during one of the wettest winters on record.

The Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival will be held from Thursday to Sunday, February 18 to 21, with workshops being held in the Queens Hall, Narberth.

More information for all workshops and events on offer throughout the festival, can be found on www.navf.co.uk or by calling Span Arts on 01834 869323.