Homecoming for St James Choir’s jubilee celebration

Saint James’s Singers originally grew out of a small madrigal group by conductor Julian Harris while he was still at school in Stratford.

He later developed it when he was choirmaster at St James’s Church in Alveston, and the choir now numbers more than 40 members who travel from all over the country to sing together and raise tens of thousands of pounds for local charities.

Making the performance even more memorable will be 12-year-old Christopher Willoughby who arrives fresh from the BBC Proms in Albert Hall and after leaving Warwick School is now a leading soloist at Westminster Abbey.

Julian Harris began teaching Christopher at The Croft when he was five, and said: “I am delighted to be working with Christopher again.

“He was always a very musical pupil with huge potential but he has really hit the heights with his wonderful work at the Abbey - even wowing the Queen on her recent visit there.”

When they perform at St Mary’s Church on October 2 with the Junior Saint James’s Singers the combined choir will range in age from just 11 to more than 70 years old.

Choir president and baritone singer, Roderick Williams, said: “It was a pleasure to be invited to become Patron of the Junior Saint James’s Singers as I have little doubt that I would not be a professional singer today had I not started at the tender age of six myself. I think it is wonderful that so many children are interested in singing today, and I think it is hugely valuable for children to discover specifically the value of choral singing, to learn the disciplines of ensemble, blend, tuning and singing in parts.”

People such as Dame Judi Dench, John Nettles and Carolyn Sampson have all performed with the choir, who will be accompanied by a full symphony orchestra and performing pieces such as Handel’s Zadok the Priest, and Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus.

For tickets call 776438 or go online.