THE AVCC IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY CHOIR IN THE AXE VALLEY
It was on the warm summer evening of Saturday, 4th July, 2009, that the residents of Whitford were enjoying a BBQ and treasure hunt at the Village Hall.
A chance conversation occurred between a certain Edward Jacobs, who had moved into the village a few months before and some ladies who were looking to enjoy singing in a way other than a formal ladies' choir or a choral society.
The next couple of months were spent sharing the idea locally, with encouraging support from the Whitford Village Hall Committee and ......... on Friday, 11th September, 2009,
THE AXE VALLEY COMMUNITY CHOIR was born!
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Edward Jacobs was the musical director and accompanist of the Axe Valley Community Choir. Brought up in a family with a strong musical background, he started playing the piano at three years old and later added other instruments to his repertoire.
Edward studied the teaching and performance of music at Hertfordshire College of Higher Education, classical piano under Julie Harrell and later, Dennis Page. He had years of experience of performing and also in the development, teaching and conducting of music. This included numerous bands, groups, choirs and school music performances as well as solo piano.
Music formed the backbone of his professional and social life and he cherished the people with whom he worked and performed and enjoyed every single moment of it!
We rehearse every Friday evening during school terms from 7.30 to 9.30pm, usually at either Colyford Memorial Hall or Seaton Methodist Hall.
Members come from all over the Axe Valley and further afield - some from Lyme Regis, Sidmouth, Chard, Honiton and Seaton.
Our repertoire is extensive and includes a wide variety of popular ballads, both traditional and modern.
The choir has performed at several village halls in the Axe Valley, such as Kilmington, Northleigh, Lyme Regis and Whitford, in aid of various charity organisations. We have also performed in the Town Hall at Seaton, the Guildhall in Axminster and further afield in Plymouth and South East Cornwall.
In December, 2009, 2010 and 2011 we were invited by the Seaton Chamber of Commerce to lead the carol singing when the town Christmas lights were switched on and we also took part in Whitford's Christmas celebrations.
Our first professional performance was at the Axe Vale Festival in June 2011 when the choir sang 23 songs on each of the two days of the show.
It was the experience of this performance that inspired us to record a CD, some tracks of which can be found in the Tracks section.
To launch our CD a special concert was held on Saturday, 14th July, 2011, in Seaton Town Hall when we also raised money for Cancer Research.
We hope that listening to the tracks will encourage you to join us. You are sure to find a warm and friendly welcome.
