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INTRODUCTION Formed in 1945, the Heathfield Choral Society (HCS) now has a membership of around 60 singers, drawn from Heathfield and other towns and villages in the Wealden area of East Sussex in this beautiful part of South East England. The Choir regularly performs a wide repertoire of classical choral works, choruses and songs with professional orchestras and soloists, and attracts enthusiastic audiences. In addition to the long-established works, we also include music by 20th century composers such as John Rutter and Benjamin Britten in our programmes. We have occasionally commissioned new works. The annual Christmas and Spring concerts are held locally (most recently in Heathfield Community College), but the Choir also performs further afield and at weddings and other special events. We are one of the friendliest and most enterprising choirs in the area. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings, 7.30pm to 9.30pm from September to June in the Christ Church Hall in Horam. These are always enjoyable and rewarding. Music can be borrowed or bought and rehearsal tapes are available to help members study parts at home. Social activities are held each year. If you enjoy singing we would like to hear from you. It is advisable to be able to follow music but sight-reading ability is not essential. You will find that this improves quite quickly as we rehearse. Good singers are given opportunities for solo work. CHOIR & COMMUNITY The Society is committed to furthering the musical life of the town. It raises funds for local charities, sings carols at Christmas, invites school choirs and other youth groups to perform in its concerts and organises special events in which members of the community can take part (such as the popular Singing Days). Its aim is to bring the highest quality of choral music to the Wealden area of East Sussex. Amongst other deserving causes, HCS has raised funds for The David Benson Memorial Fund and The James House Hospice Trust. PROFILES Brian Newman - Conductor
He works with massed choirs, as chorus master at major venues, including the Royal Festival Hall and the Brighton Centre. He has conducted in America and in Europe and has prepared choirs for television and CD recordings. As a composer, Brian has had one of his school cantatas televised and another featured in a Schools Festival at the South Bank Concert Halls. He recently retired as Head Teacher of Maynards Green Primary School.
Gavin Stevens - Accompanist
The Choir, performing Handel's Messiah with the Lyric Chamber Orchestra, on December 16th 2000.
Some of the lower voices at rehearsal, autumn 2009...
... and the upper voices...
...not to mention the accompanist...
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In addition to his work with the Heathfield Choral Society, Brian is musical
director of the 
Gavin
has been the Heathfield Choral Society's accompanist for several seasons. He was born in
Chichester and started learning piano aged 8 and began composing at the age of
10. He studied at Chichester College of Technology from 1978-80 and later at the
Royal Academy of Music where he was awarded the Arthur Hinton prize for
composition at the end of his first year. In 1983 he won the first Cornelius
Cardew Memorial Prize for Composition with his Three Pieces for Piano. He has
taught piano, electronic organ and keyboard in Worthing and was also a part time
lecturer in music at Chichester College of Arts, Science and Technology. At
present, he is a freelance teacher of piano, composition and theory. He is also
active as a recital pianist, accompanist, composer and arranger. His most recent
solo recital was in May 1998 with a programme of Beethoven, Haydn, Scott Joplin
and 12 Bagatelles of his own composition. Earlier he has given recitals as part
of the Brighton and Chichester Festivals. As a soloist he likes to specialise in
works by 20th Century British composers. He now lives in West Sussex.
