Welcome to the Sittingbourne Orpheus web site. I have been a member of the Orpheus since 1995 and became Chairman in September, 2004. I joined a flourishing choir in 1995, but we have grown in number since then, and it is a privilege to sing with such a committed group of people.

Our Christmas 2007 concert got our season off to a good start. We were pleased to be back at The Swallows, and the mix of pieces helped us to feel that it was back to 'business as usual'. Being a slightly smaller choir at the moment, we were aware that the brass and percussion sections were causing us considerable exertion! But more of that later. This season continues with Handel's 'Saul' in May, and favourite opera choruses and easy-listening songs for our supper concert in July. Unlike Handel's Messiah, Saul is not an often-performed work, but it is unmistakably Handel, and so Baroque and Handel fans should both enjoy the evening - we look forward to welcoming you to our audience.

Once Andrew had joined us we very quickly tried out something new, and everyone was delighted with the success of Karl Jenkins' 'Armed Man'. There will be new ideas for next season, to include more Karl Jenkins, and a traditional proms concert. Watch this space! Having listened to the choir and audience, our Christmas concert 2008 will be brass-free! Of course, we all love brass at Christmas, but their volume is an issue at the moment. Andrew and I will be exploring technical ways of lowering, or covering the brass volume, but this may take a few months (and some fundraising), and so it was decided it would be best to make our Christmas plans now.

My job as Chairman will be to ensure that the choir continues to grow. We always welcome new members, and so please contact us for joining details and more information. There are no auditions for membership. Singers of all abilities, of all ages (from 14 to over 80 years), and from all walks of life are encouraged to find, rediscover or develop their skills. The only commitment we ask of a member is to have an enthusiasm for singing and to attend about 40 rehearsals and three concerts per year. We look forward to hearing from you!

We hope you find this site of interest: we are always pleased to hear from other organisations, supporters, or those who have an interest in music, wherever you are in the world. You can read about our history and some of our activities by clicking on the links opposite. If you would like to make a comment, or join us at a concert or fund-raising event, please contact us.

For a list of past chairmen, please click here.