THIS month marks half a century of making music for a north Essex group.

The Kelvedon Singers have been looking back at their rich history as they prepare for an anniversary concert in Coggeshall later this month.

The group was founded by the Rev Peter Elers in 1966, who was at the time the vicar of Kelvedon, explains choir member Celia Edey.

Celia is herself one of the longest serving members of the choir having joined the group almost 40 years ago in 1978.

After setting up the group Peter subsequently moved to Thaxted where he continued to promote music-making in the church and also became an early supporter of the recognition and acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships by the church.

After his departure the Kelvedon Singers, a chamber choir, continued to exist and, with only a brief pause, has been regularly performing since.

As well as Peter there has been four other regular conductors – Henry Gold during the 1970s, Tom Cogan in the 80s and 90s and Roger Muttit during part of the 90s.

For the past 20 years its conductor and director has been Chris Phelps.

Celia says: “Tom became head of music at Holmwood House School and Roger was head of Music at Felsted Junior School “Chris was for many years course director of conducting at the Colchester Institute and the choir has also enjoyed singing under the baton of several guest conductors, including Nigel Hildreth.”

The choir typically has a complement of 20 to 24 members, drawn from a wide area of East Essex and South Suffolk and prepares at least three programmes to perform a year. There have been more than 100 singers through the years, and a number of past members will be attending the Celebration Concert.

They have also sung in countless churches and other venues, both locally and further afield including Ely Cathedral, Wimborne Minster, the HAC in London, St Luke’s Church in Chelsea, Liverpool Cathedral, Cahors Cathedral in France and memorably at the Last Post Ceremony under the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium.

“That was one of the most amazing occasions and what makes being in the choir so special, sharing it with other people who love it as much as I do,” explains Celia.

The group also raise funds for a large number of charities including Colchester Samaritans, MS Society, NSPCC and many church roof and organ restoration appeals.

The music they perform ranges from the sacred music of the liturgy, through to madrigals, musicals, classical settings, jazz, blues and choral settings of pop numbers. n The music chosen for the anniversary performance includes Schubert’s Mass in G; Mozart’s Litanae Laurentiae; Purcell’s O Sing Unto the Lord and New Song; Vivaldi’s Gloria; and Britten’s Jubilate. Jubilate is on Saturday April 30 at St Peter-ad-Vincula Coggeshall at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.