The Erpingham Young People’s Choir began its melodious journey on 9 November at St Mary’s Church in Erpingham and offers an opportunity for aspiring young singers aged 7 to 16 to come together, learn, and experience the joy of music.
Eve Bryant, who is leading the Choir says: “We’ve had a successful initial couple of weeks, with 12-15 young people attending from a range of ages, all having a really fun time. We’re gearing up to our first performance which we’re hoping to have in December at a local Christmas service; for which we have started to learn a new Christmas song. We’ve had positive feedback from parents and children attending, saying that our Thursday afternoons at St Mary’s are fun, a great chance to meet new friends and also to share in a love for singing! We really hope that the choir will continue to grow and be a highlight of the week.”
The Revd Canon Heather Butcher, Priest in Charge for the Scarrowbeck Benefice, expressed her enthusiasm for this new initiative, saying: “There is quite a lot of provision of social activities for older and retired people in North Norfolk. We want to offer young people their own opportunity to make music and to experience the satisfaction of working together to create something beautiful. We hope it will build their confidence and self worth as well as supporting their mental health.”
The choir’s mission is to cultivate a love for music, nurture artistic expression, and promote community among the young people of North Norfolk. Under the leadership of Eve, the Erpingham Young People’s Choir is set to be both fun and educational. Eve is a vocal tutor based in Norwich and brings a passion for nurturing young voices, ensuring that each member of the choir has the opportunity to shine. She says: “There are so many reasons to sing! It builds confidence, and creativity and improves well-being and self-esteem, giving children an opportunity to express themselves in new and exciting ways, as well as building new friendships. We’re also delighted to be able to offer free membership, especially during the current cost of living crisis.”
There will be a blend of both secular and faith-based songs, with the choir’s inaugural performance planned to be a highlight of the Christmas season, singing at a local Christmas service. This will be an excellent opportunity for the choir to share the joy and spirit of the holiday season with their local community.
The Erpingham Young People’s Choir welcomes all interested people aged 7 to 16 and will run every Thursday from 4.15pm until 5.15pm, and it is completely free! For more information and to sign up, please email Eve.