Welcome to the Edwin James Festival Choir and Orchestra official website.
The choir's aim is to promote the art form - MUSIC IS LIFE - involving local people in the choir and orchestra bringing a wide range of music to the Arun area, by local people for local people.
Our passion is music and we raise money for many different charities.
We hope you enjoy looking through our website. You will find different ways to contact us, whether you wish to become a choir or orchestra member or just support us by coming to see our concerts.
Thank you for taking the time to support us.
Our Next Concert - PROM "Magical Musical Memories"
The choir and orchestra present their 21st Prom concert featuring songs from the musicals, old and new, plus all the Prom favourites. Flag waving and audience participation positively encouraged!
Tickets: £10 adults, £4 children
Contact our box office on 01243 582330 or click here to contact us
Doors open 6:45pm
Performance commences 7:30pm.
St James The Great Church, East Ham Road, Littlehampton
We are supporting the following charities from August 2018 to July 2019:
The concert will be performed again at St Mary's Church, Grassmere Cl, Felpham PO22 7NU on 21st September 2018 at 7:30pm.
Latest News
Armed Forces Day
The choir will be singing at the Littlehampton Armed Forces Day on Saturday 30th June, appearing at the Stage By The Sea at Midday.
The days events start at 10:30am in aid of the Royal British Legion to celebrate and honor those that serve and have served in the Armed Forces.
It promises to be a fun packed day!
Hampton, our Mascot
Hampton, our Mascot will be appearing at the "Mayor's Party in the Park" on 15th July 2018.
The event is on from 10am to 4pm at Mewsbrook Park, Hendon Avenue, Rustington BN16 2LX raising fund for the Littlehampton Mayor's charity for the year, Arun Youth Projects.
If you can't wait till then to meet our 8ft Hedgehog, he will also be appearing at the Big Tea Party at St Barnabas shop in Wick on 5th July at 3pm.
Sussex Summer Nights Concert at Yapton
The Sussex Day concert has taken place but it will be performed again for the Cottage Gardeners at:-
YAPTON VILLAGE HALL, Main Road, Yapton BN18 0ET
Date: 20th July 2018
Performance commences : 7:30pm.
Tickets : £8
Contact our box office on 01243 582330 or click here
Waitrose Community Matters
Wonderful News!
Every month, the Rustington branch of Waitrose donates £1000 to be shared by three local causes and we have been chosen to be one of the recipients for the coming month.
Each time you shop, Waitrose will give you the little green discs which you pop into the large container of your chosen charity (!) at the exit, one at the front and one at the back of the shop. The more discs in our container, the more we will receive.
The caption on the container says “With over 70 members this community choir and orchestra has raised money for good causes over the past 20 years. Cost in holding a concert and the hire or purchase of the music scores alone can be significant. Most of their concerts are held at St James Church in Littlehampton.”
Please consider us when shopping at Waitrose, Broadmark Ln, Rustington, Littlehampton BN16 2NE!
Thank you.
Main charities - Year to July 2019
We are supporting the following charities for the year to July 2019:-
Review of our last concert - Sussex Summer Nights
The choir took pride in their county by performing a concert to celebrate Sussex Day on 16th June with traditional songs and poems plus songs from the 70s.
The audience were treated to a diverse programme of popular numbers ranging from Country to Rock, Pop and Movie greats with songs originally performed by such artistes as Queen, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond, John Denver, The Carpenters, The Bee Gees, Elton John and many more.
The 50 strong choir wore bright coloured tops with black trousers or skirts to reflect the colourful nature of the songs performed with the church decorated with bunting and the Sussex flag.
The evening was attended by Chairman of the Arun District Council Cllr Alan Gammon who has been instrumental in promoting Sussex Day.
Also attending was the Mayor of Littlehampton, Billy Blanchard-Cooper, who said “The programme for this concert saw them combine traditional Sussex folk songs and poems, interspersed with popular hits from the 70s including numbers from Grease and Saturday Night Fever. As always the group were under the musical direction of James Rushman and produced a delightful uplifting experience. I particularly enjoyed the opening number The Candy Man and lovely harmonies performed in numbers such as Annie’s Song and Bohemian Rhapsody”.
Profits from this concert are being shared between our charities for the year to July 2018 - 4Sight, Chichester Stroke Club, Children on the Edge and the Parkinson’s UK.
If you missed this concert, it is being performed again for the Cottage Gardeners on 20th July at the Yapton Village Hall, Main Road, Yapton BN18 0ET at 7:30pm. Contact us for tickets or call the box office on 01243 582330
Fascinating Facts
Fact 1 - During our financial year to December 2017, the choir directly raised £4,243.61 for charities and good causes:-
- St James Church, Littlehampton
- MacMillan Nurses
- Enable Me
- Cancerwise
- Mission to Seafarers
- St Barnabus Hospice
- Alzheimers
- Sussex Hospice
- Littlehampton Musical Comedy Society
- United Church, Littlehampton
- Royal British Legion
- Rustington Lions
The total raised over the last 20 years is £140,000!
Fact 2- The choir has its roots in the church so is often perceived as a church choir but it is very much a community choir.
We are a not-for-profit performing arts charitable organisation serving the Littlehampton and surrounding areas. Being a community choir:-
- there are no auditions although the Musical Director will want to assess your voice.
- the choir is not affiliated to any particular idea, culture or organisation (e.g. church or other faith group, particular style of music).
- no prior musical knowledge is required (e.g. the ability to read music).
- People are not excluded on the basis of age, race, gender,disability, sexual orientation etc.
- we are a group of people singing together, united by our love of music, which has created a strong sense of community.
- we have an organising committee which represents the views of the choir as a whole, and who also help to run social events for the choir.
Fact 3 - For 2018, we are proud to have 93 Patrons, 3 Life Members and 1 Honorary Life Patron.
Last updated : 24th June 2018
Number of Visitors:
MUSIC
"Speaks what cannot be expressed,
Soothes the mind and gives it rest,
Heals the heart and makes it whole,
Flows from Heaven to the soul."
CONTACT US TODAY!
Ticket Booking Line:
+44 1243 582330 +44 1243 582330
Membership Booking line:
+44 1903 502262
Email : edwinjamesfestivalchoir@gmail.com
Or use our contact form.
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