Welcome to the Edwin James Festival Choir and Orchestra official website.

Our 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 - WINTER WONDERLAND

Join us for this magical Disney themed Choir concert and let the Christmas celebration begin!

13th December 2019

Doors open 6:45pm, performance 7:30pm

(In aid of our chosen charities plus donations to Turning Tides)

14th December 2019

Doors open 2:15pm, performance 3:00pm

(In aid of choir music fund)

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

Tickets £10 adults / £4 children.

Ticket Line: 01243 582330

Latest News

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Bells are ringing,

Christmas Carollers are singing.......

It must be time for Christmas shopping!!

The choir and orchestra wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous and healthy New Year.

We thank you all for your support in 2019 and look forward to seeing you again soon.

New members always welcome - contact us on 01903 502262 or come along to our Information Evening on 8th January 2020 at 7:30pm St James Church Hall, East Ham Road, Littlehampton

Charities

We are supporting the following charities:-

For the year to July 2020:-

Turning Tides (Worthing Churches Homeless Project)

CALM, Campaign Against Living Miserably

Sussex Snowdrop Trust

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 can be made via 01243 582330.

Events timetable:

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

Click Here to view full details.

Members' section

NOTICES

To obtain the password Contact Us to request it or see the notice board at rehearsals.

Click here

Review of our last concert-REMEMBRANCE

EJFC AND LOUGHBOROUGH CHOIRS UNITE TO REMEMBER

The wonderful voices of the Loughborough Male Voice Choir raised the roof when they made a rare appearance on the South Coast performing alongside the Choir and Orchestra in a ‘Time for Remembrance’ concert.

The programme for the choirs joint concert combined loss, hope, peace and reflection in what was an overall celebration of memories of those no longer with us, including those who have lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Many people took the opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved one, which adorned the four window sills around the church. The concert was also dedicated to the memory of Sue Ims, our choir Patron and Friend.

The Loughborough Male Voice Choir was made up of 35 singers, with accompanist Becky Norton and Musical Director Chris Hill. The Edwin James Festival Choir presented 50 singers with the Orchestra, led by Kay Durrant, having 30 members with Musical Director and Conductor James Rushman.

The Concert offered a varied programme of choral and orchestral numbers that are nostalgic, popular and religious including English and Welsh Hymns with opportunities for everyone to join in with Jerusalem, Guide Me Oh Thou Great Redeemer, The White Cliffs of Dover (soloist Lorna Haynes) and When the Saints Go Marching In.

The Edwin James Festival choir sang In Dreams, Fields of Gold, Seal Lullaby, Please Remember, You Raise Me Up, I Believe, Address To The Moon, For Good from Wicked and When You Believe.

The Loughborough Male Voice Choir presented Anthem from Chess, Can You Hear Me?, Lean On Me, Gwahoddiad, Cantique de Jean Racine. What Would I Do Without My Music and Pearl Fishers’ Duet which was magnificently performed by Lyndon Gardner & Paul Blakemore.

Both choirs joined together to sing With A Voice Of Singing (The Loughborough Male Voice Choir anthem - see video clip below) and the orchestra played Somewhere In Time, The Beyondness Of Things and As Time Goes By as well as accompanying the choirs.

Two beautiful poems were specially written and read by their authors; Sandy Shiner (For A Special Brother) and Julie Griffiths (I Call It Love). It must be said that the choirs sang exceptionally well in unison and in four part harmonies and the orchestra played with sensitivity and passion to respect and remember this special time. Congratulations to everyone involved in the concert, whether performing, assisting or organising.

There was a retiring collection for The Sussex Snowdrop Trust, a unique charity providing ‘nursing care at home’ for local children who have a life-threatening illness or may be terminally ill.

CLICK HERE to view more video clips

Fascinating Facts

Fact 1 - During our financial year to December 2018, the choir directly raised £2,749.00 for charities and good causes:-

Children on the Edge
Parkinson's
4Sight Vision Support
Chichester Stroke Club
Children in Need
Royal British Legion
St James Church, Littlehampton
Littlehampton Food Bank
Littlehampton Musical Comedy Society
Mayor of Littlehampton's charities

The total raised over the last 21 years is £142,749!

The Accounts for 2019 will be presented at the AGM in April 2020

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 2019, we are proud to have 92 Patrons, 3 Life Members and 1 Honorary Life Patron. In October 2019, Patrons and their partners were invited to a film night to thank them for their patronage over the last year. They enjoyed pre-film drinks and canapes before joining in a sing-a-long to the Greatest Showman. Thanks to Chris and James for hosting the event.

Website created : August 2015

Last updated : 29th November 2019

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