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 - Sussex Summer Nights
The choir will be celebrating Sussex Day by featuring music of the 70's in this fun concert. We will be supporting all 4 of our chosen charities this year:-
Doors open 6.45pm, performance commences 7.30pm
St James The Great Church, East Ham Road, Littlehampton BN17 7AN
Tickets £8 adults, £4 children
Box office: Chris Allen 01243 582330 or
Click here to purchase tickets
(Concert will be performed again at 7:30pm on 20th July 2018 at Cottage Gardeners, Yapton.)
Latest News
Summer Fayre 2nd June 2018
Our annual Summer Fayre is being staged at Littlehampton United Church, located on the corner of Littlehampton High Street, on Saturday 2nd June 2018.
Doors open at 12:30pm with a small charge payable on entry, and the event will close at 3:30pm.
Funds raised from the sale will be used to purchase music for the choir
View our Press Release for more information.
Main charities - Year to July 2018
We are supporting the following charities for the year to July 2018.
4Sight
Chichester Stroke Club
Children on the Edge
Parkinsons
Our next concert (June 2018) promotes all four charities.
Annual General Meeting
The minutes to the AGM held on 11th April 2018 are available to view in the Members' Section.
Review of our last concert - Good Friday
The choir and orchestra supported the charity Parkinson’s UK in this exceptionally moving concert to observe Good Friday.
Conducted by Musical Director James Rushman with a 34 piece orchestra and 57 singers, the concert included The Armed Man as the main work being performed. Soloist for the evening was local Soprano Lorna Moore who sang Oh Divine Redeemer in the first half, accompanied by the orchestra. The concert began with an orchestra piece, Prelude to the Dream of Gerontius by Edward Elgar, followed by the choir and orchestra’s performance of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love (Jenkins) and The Prayer: Laudamus Te, taken from Karl Jenkins vibrant “Gloria”.
The second half performance was The Armed Man which was written for the victims of the Kosovo crisis in 1999. The feelings of horror and of wanting peace all feature in this gripping composition of music which was expertly sung and played, capturing an eclectic mix of emotions. Lorna Moore excelled in voice and expression and the orchestra was outstanding, made special with solo parts from the percussion, flute, cello and trumpets.
The choir and orchestra’s hard work was rewarded with a well-deserved Standing Ovation from the sell-out audience, which included the Mayor of Littlehampton and his Consort. Many congratulations to everyone involved in this wonderful concert.
Update: The bucket collection raised £173.86 - thank you to everyone. There will also be a donation from the choir which will be presented at our annual dinner in August.
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 : 20th May 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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