The award-winning University of Newcastle Chamber Choir heads to the UK next week for a much-anticipated tour that will see them perform to a potential audience of millions.

The trip follows the Choir's success last night at the McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge, where it won the John Lamble Australasian Open Choral Championship.

The Choir performed two Australian pieces, Geography III by Paul Stanhope and Surrexit Dominus by Nigel Butterley, as well as the King's Singers hit I'm a train.

Among the highlights of the upcoming tour will be a performance by the choir at St Paul's Cathedral in London and two days of live broadcasting by the BBC.

Conductor, Dr Philip Matthias, said the tour would be the fourth overseas trip for the choir since 2000.

"This is an exciting trip for all of us and the choir will be performing at a range of top-class venues during the three week tour," Dr Matthias said.

"The performance at St Paul's Cathedral will be followed by performances at St John's College in Cambridge and Blackburn Cathedral.

"We have also been invited to perform with renowned composer John Rutter followed by a reception at the home of novelist Lord Jeffrey Archer and Lady Mary Archer.

"Performances from the Emmanuel Church in Didsbury will then be broadcast live by the BBC Daily Service, which will expose the choir to a potential listening audience in the many millions."

The 30-member choir is made up of University staff and students, as well as music-lovers from the Hunter region.

The choir has recently been fitted out with new uniforms designed by local company High Tea with Mrs Woo, run by University of Newcastle graduates Rowena, Juliana and Angela Foong.

The tour has been made possible through the support of the University of Newcastle Foundation and the choir members themselves.

It is the third time the choir has toured the UK, and follows its most recent overseas trip to South Korea in 2004.

The University of Newcastle Chamber Choir heads to the UK on Sunday 24 June and returns Sunday 15 July.

A CD of the performances will be compiled once the choir returns to Australia.