Hailsham Voices and Eastbourne Voices unite for concert celebration

Hailsham's Deputy Mayor, Councillor Colin Mitchell, joined singers, supporters and concertgoers at The Winter Garden in Eastbourne on Saturday [7th November] for a special musical celebration bringing together two popular community choirs.

Entitled 'Voices in Harmony', the concert saw Hailsham Voices and Eastbourne Voices Community Pop Choirs take to the stage together for their second collaborative performance, following the success of their first joint concert last year.

With 155 singers performing together and over 500 people in the audience, the evening provided an opportunity to celebrate local musical talent, bringing together voices from across East Sussex for an entertaining programme of well-known songs and popular favourites.

The concert showcased the enthusiasm, dedication and collective talent of both choirs, demonstrating the enjoyment and sense of togetherness that community music-making can bring. The large-scale performance also highlighted the hard work involved in bringing so many singers together for a shared musical experience.

Deputy Town Mayor, Councillor Mitchell, said: "It was a pleasure to attend 'Voices in Harmony' and see so many talented singers coming together for such an enjoyable evening. Bringing together around 150 voices on one stage is no small undertaking, and the result was a wonderful celebration of music, community and local talent."

"Both choirs should be extremely proud of what they have achieved. Community groups such as these play an important part in bringing people together, building friendships and providing opportunities for people to develop their confidence and enjoy something collectively."

"I would like to congratulate choir leader Abbie Marsden, everyone involved in organising the concert and, of course, all the singers who took part. It was fantastic to see Hailsham so well represented, and I hope the partnership between the two choirs continues to flourish."

Choir leader Abbie Marsden commented: "We were absolutely delighted to bring Hailsham Voices and Eastbourne Voices together once again. There is something very special about hearing so many people singing together, and the commitment shown by everyone involved in preparing for the concert was wonderful."

"Events like this are about much more than learning songs and performing on stage. They are about friendship, confidence, shared experiences and the enjoyment of being part of something bigger. Both choirs have worked incredibly hard, and it was lovely to be able to share the results of that effort with our audiences."

"We are hugely grateful to everyone who came along to support us, and we look forward to continuing to bring people together through music."

Hailsham Voices Community Pop Choir is a welcoming and inclusive singing group based at the James West Community Centre on Brunel Drive, where members meet every Thursday evening from 7pm to 8.15pm.

With a membership of more than 90 singers, the choir welcomes people of all ages and abilities, with no previous singing experience required. Its aim is to provide an enjoyable and supportive environment where people can discover or develop their love of singing, meet others and enjoy performing a varied selection of popular music.

New members are welcome, with attendance available on a flexible pay-as-you-go basis at £8 per session. Those interested in joining can take advantage of a free trial session before committing to membership.

For further information about Hailsham Voices, rehearsals and opportunities to join, visit www.hailshamvoices.co.uk.