We sang in a performance of Handel's Messiah at the Cliffs Pavilion on Easter Sunday evening. This was conducted by Roy Goodman and accompanied by the English Chamber Orchestra

We took part in a performance of Verdi's Requiem on Saturday March 28th 2009. The other two choirs were the Southend Bach Choir and the Southend Choral Society. We were accompanied by the Essex Concert Orchestra and our conductor was Sir David Willcocks. The evening was a wonderful experience. This was the first time we had sung in the Bernadine Hall at St Bernard's School.

Our 40th anniversary dinner in January 2009 was a very happy occasion. Roy Wales, our founder, was present with his wife Christine, as was Michael Crabb and our present Musical Director Tom Appleton. Much reminiscing went on and many happy memories discussed.

Rehearsals are now held at St Peter's Church, Eastbourne Grove, Westcliff. See membership page for location.

Our 2008 Carols for Christmas raised £460 for the Mayor's charity.

Michael Crabb steps down as Musical Director. Report

We held a highly successful hymnathon on Saturday March 29th 2008 in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and Fair Havens Hospice. Our thanks to Highlands Methodist Church for kindly allowing us the use of the church, to the ladies who provided us with much needed and most welcome refreshments and to our accompanist Michael Crabb and the two 'relief accompanists', Rosemary Pennington and Rex Berrecloth. Also, a special thank you to everyone that sponsored our choir members, who valiantly sang through 94 hymns and some choruses from 'Messiah'. The event took place from 10am to 4pm. The amount raised is estimated to be £7000. The final total will be posted on this site.

Some members of the Chorus sang Carols at Southend Hospital just before Christmas 2007. Pictures

Sadly, one of our Altos, Helen Byrne, died suddenly on December 12th 2006. Helen was an extremely loyal and supportive member of the Southend Festival Chorus. We will miss her greatly. We send our deepest sympathy to her family.

At the recent Annual General Meeting, Chairman Nancy Roberts retired, having been in office since 1990. She was presented with a silver pendant depicting the choir logo, and a basket of flowers, and was thanked for all her hard work during her years as Chairman.
Nigel Warwick-Brown was elected as Chairman.

It is with sadness that we report the recent death of one of our founder members and a past chairman Arthur Humphrey. Several members of Southend Festival Chorus joined together with Holy Trinity Church choir and Southend Choral Society to bid a fond and musical farewell to Arthur. His funeral service took place at St Mary's Church Prittlewell on Monday March 6th. Arthur's son Roger conducted the choir. We sang the Hallelujah Chorus, Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus, as well as hymns and a psalm setting. Emily Griffiths sang Geoffrey Burgon's Nunc Dimittis. The service was a moving and fitting tribute to Arthur. Our sympathy is extended to his widow Frances and his family.