ONE SUN, ONE WORLD – THE CHOIR SING IN MEMORY OF JOE COSTA

One Sun, One World was chosen as a musical memorial for Joe, a larger-than-life, well-loved member of the choir, Littlehampton Town Concert Band and member of the music group at Parkside Evangelical Church who lost his battle for life in February.

The performance was held on Saturday, 27th August 2016 at the Parkside Evangelical Church with no admission charge but with a retiring collection in aid of St Barnabas Hospice.

Commissioned by the World Wide Fund for their 50th Anniversary, One Sun One World has an environmental theme that reaches out with a message of hope for the future of the natural world and humanity’s place within it.  The musical took the audience on a journey through the great forces of earth, the power of the sun, the ocean tides, wind patterns, the miracle of rainfall, a web of cold and heat all inter-connected and weaving in an amazing variety of landscapes, habitats and life-forms re-born in a world of human interdependence, culminating in an emotional message with the song “We Share A Wonderful World”.  

James Rushman, Musical Director commented ‘Joe and his wife Eva joined the choir seventeen years ago. Our motto is Music is Life and it certainly was for Joe who not only sang but played the oboe, clarinet and keyboard.  He became very accomplished and joined The Littlehampton Town Concert Band and the music group at the church.’  Rushman continued ‘Joe was small in stature but big in heart, nothing was ever too much trouble for him and he will be remembered by all who met him as a gentle man with a big heart. He loved the choir, his music, the concert band and was a loyal friend.  His big smile, Geordie/Asian accent and tam-o-shanter will long remain in the memory of all who knew him, not to mention his famed Lemon Drizzle Cake’.

Congratulations to soloists, duettists, narrators and all singers who performed in this musical memorial for Joe. Many thanks to Parkside Evangelical Church for providing the venue and for looking after the performers and audience on a seriously hot afternoon. Thank you James for brilliant piano playing and for getting us there musically and to Chris for the production and all the little extras. Our love goes to the wonderful audience and to Eva and her family. The amount raised for St Barnabus was £573.25.