Hurst College Chamber Choir lends its voice to sing in a concert to support “Help for Heroes”

On Friday 16th October, the Chamber Choir joined forces with primary school choirs from Albourne and Twineham and with the choir of Christ Church, Sayers Common to provide an evening of music and reflective readings with a military theme to raise money for this worthy cause. As was explained at the beginning of the concert, it is important that those on active service benefit from financial support on their return home. This fund raiser deliberately juxtaposed First World War poetry with contemporary songs and readings in order to draw a parallel with the servicemen and women of the past with soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.   
  
Members of the Chamber Choir themselves chose some of the most poignant and emotionally charged anthems from their repertoire to sing in the concert. The audience was visibly moved and audibly delighted with the choir’s contribution as they applauded enthusiastically after performances of For the Fallen by Douglas Guest, Greater Love Hath no Man by John Irelan and Dear Lord and Father of Mankind by Parry. These items were interspersed with enthusiastic performances of popular songs from both World Wars performed by Albourne and Twineham Primary Schools. The esprit de corps was palpable when the church’s own congregation rallied to join the combined choirs and finish the concert with two rousing hymns, Jerusalem and I Vow to Thee, My Country.

We were delighted to have been included in this concert. Sadly, Dame Vera Lynn was, at the last minute, unable to attend the concert but who knows, maybe “We’ll Meet [her] Again” at the next one.