Edwin James Festival Choir and Orchestra present their Summer Prom concert in aid of St Wilfrid's, St Barnabas and Chestnut Tree House hospices featuring well known songs from the musicals old and new, plus traditional "Last Night of the Prom" flag waving favourites.

Date: 15th June 2019

Doors open 6:45pm

Performance commences 7:30pm

Venue: St James Church, East Ham Road, Littlehampton BN17 7AN

Box Office: 01243 582330

Adults £10 Children £4

Further performances of this concert will take place at St Mary's Church Felpham on 5th July 2019 (for our 3 charities) and at Midhurst Memorial Hall on 12th July 2019 (in aid of 4 Sight Vision Support).

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Summer Fayre - 1st June 2019

Our Summer Fayre is being held at United Church, Littlehampton on 1st June from 12:30 until 3:00pm

GOOD FRIDAY CONCERT review

The choir and orchestra invited other singers to come for a one-day challenge to rehearse and perform Requiem by Gabriel Faure on Good Friday, in memory of our friend, Colin Haynes.

They attracted 18 extra singers, including one lady from Sweden, to make a total of 46 singers with 27 orchestral members, who performed under the Musical Direction of James Rushman.

Written in seven movements, the Requiem is scored for soprano (Pat Franklin) and baritone (David Bathurst ) soloists.  Also included in the programme was Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, Ave Verum and Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte, all of which was both beautiful and emotional.

The retiring collection raised £820 for our chosen charities St. Wilfrid’s Hospice, St. Barnabas House and Chestnut Tree House

Charities

We are supporting the following charities:-

For the year to July 2019:-

St Wilfrid's Hospice

St Barnabas Hospice

Chestnut Tree House Hospice

For the year to July 2020:-

Turning Tides (Worthing Churches Homeless Project)

SERV Sussex

Jamie's Wish

Under the direction of Chris Allen and James Rushman, the choir have turned their attention to promoting and supporting St. James Church and Hall in East Ham Road, Littlehampton as a Community Hub following the closure of the church with no further services being held. Enquiries and bookings can be made via 01243 582330.

Events timetable: 

COFFEE AND CHATTER MORNINGS - every Friday from 10:30am to 12 midday serving delicious treats! 

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The Choir made a poignant departure from their usual concert style to perform a musical play revolving round the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster. This cleverly written story did not apportion blame, but highlighted how the twists and turns of fate can save one individual but tragically end the life of another.

The musical itself revolves around a fictional story of a day in the life of two young Liverpool fans, Dan (Rick Wood) and Barry (Stuart Capelin) who set off from Brighton for Sheffield with a girl, Chloe (Lou Salmon) they have just met, all under the watchful eye of the Steward, their Guardian Angel (Chris Chewter) who tries to prevent them from getting to the F.A. Cup Semi -Final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium.

Dan is totally devoted to football to the exclusion of everything, else while his friend Barry is a frustrating but loveable idiot. The musical is about the people who have shaped their lives and those they meet along the way - Dan’s parents (Helen Chewter and Ian Sheppard), Chloe’s parents (Jeanette Fido and David Bathurst), Dan’s ex-girlfriend Debbie (Wendy Mulford) and the various situations they find themselves in. 

The choir played the other characters including the football crowd, clients, hairdressers in a salon, and travellers at a London Station.  There was a brilliant mix of powerful ballads and comical songs, with the audience reactions changing from laughter to sadness during this moving and thought-provoking piece of theatre. With the performances two days before the 30^th anniversary of the tragedy, it provided an uplifting and fitting tribute to the 96 who died.

Their Scarves Were Red was produced by arrangement with Vallier Music on 12^th April and 13^th April. Donations from the Friday show will be made to St Barnabas House, Chestnut Tree House and St Wilfred’s Hospice.