About us:
The Southend Festival Chorus was formed in 1969, and is now one of the leading choirs of its type in the South East of England. Having enjoyed many years under the baton of Michael Crabb MBE, the present Musical Director is professional conductor and singer Tom Appleton.
The Chorus has built a reputation for outstanding performances of standard choral works, including the Requiems of Berlioz, Brahms, Mozart and Verdi, Bach's St. Matthew Passion, and Mass in B Minor, Missa Solemnis - Beethoven, Elgar's Dream of Gerontius and The Music Makers, and Handel's Messiah. The Chorus has also performed many major contemporary works, such as Britten's War Requiem, Tippett's A Child of our Time, Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, This Worlde's Joie by Matthias, and one of the first performances of Geoffrey Burgon's Revelations, conducted by Sir Charles Groves. In addition the Chorus gives the Cliffs Pavilion's annual Carol Concert, in which they are joined by local youth choirs and the Southend Band, raising considerable sums for Charity. They also regularly sing at weddings and functions in the Southend area and are available for hire at very reasonable rates. For details on how to hire the Festival Chorus, please email info@southendfestivalchorus.org.uk
The Chorus has performed in Holland, France and Belgium. In the UK performances have ranged from Cathedrals to The Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Barbican and the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. The Chorus works regularly with leading Orchestras such as The Royal Philharmonic, The London Concert Orchestra, and the English Chamber Orchestra. They have worked with the London Mozart Players, participating in very well received performances, the latest of which was in April 2001, when they sang Vivaldi's Gloria, conducted by Sian Edwards. Their work with the London Festival Orchestra has included performances of Carmina Burana at Kenwood Lakeside, as well as at the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend. The Chorus works closely with The New Queens Hall Orchestra, the resident orchestra at the Cliffs Pavilion, collaborating for very successful performances of Brahms' Requiem, Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, and Belshazzar's Feast.
In November 1998 the Chorus undertook one of its most exciting ventures to date. They were invited to perform Benjamin Britten's War Requiem in Ypres Cathedral, Belgium during the weekend of the 80th anniversary of the ending of the First World War. The whole weekend was very emotional, from the thought provoking battlefield tours and Menin Gate ceremony, to the performance before a capacity audience with a standing ovation set in the very heart of an area devastated 80 years before during major battles of the First World War, and now rebuilt in memory of the hundreds of thousands who died. The Chorus was invited to return to Ypres, and performed Elgar's Dream of Gerontius there in May 2001. In October 2009, the Chorus travelled to Normandy to perform in the magnificent Rouen Cathedral and Fecamp Abbey. Over 100 members of the choir and their friends and family travelled to the North of France and received a standing ovation with their performances of the Victoria Requiem and Schütz"s Musikalische Exequien.
The Chorus always welcomes new members and anyone interested in joining should contact our membership secretary for details on how to audition.
Future plans for the Chorus include performing the Howells and Tavener Requiems in Brentwood Cathedral, Monteverdi"s Vespers with Dame Emma Kirkby in Chelmsfird Cathedral, and Choral favourites with Aled Jones in the Cliff"s Pavillion. The Chorus are also in the process of commissioning a new Vespers setting by internationally acclaimed composer Richard Allain. Details of Richard and his music can be found at http://web.mac.com/richardallain/Site/HOME.html
The Southend Festival Chorus is a very vibrant community based choir with members from all age ranges and abilities. Under their young and energetic Musical Director, Tom Appleton, they look forward to many exciting rehearsals, social evenings, concerts, and tours in the future.