​​​​Who can take part?

Confident, experienced choral singers. This project is not for beginners. It's important that you have sung ELIJAH before. When you have made a note of the rehearsal times and venues, please read the bottom paragraph below to find out about LIVING ROOM REHEARSALS, which are available to groups of singers between 18th July and the 17th August. 

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What rehearsals are there?

THERE IS NEW INFORMATION below. 

Because of your experience there are very few rehearsals.

• The KEY rehearsals are ESSENTIAL. Please do not ask if you can be excused these. It's hard for nice people to have to say "no" to other nice people!

• We will need every minute we can get, so please plan to come and enjoy the STANDARD rehearsals as well. 

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​​​​​​Rehearsals begin at:

 

​THE LAUNCH WEEKEND

18-19 July 2026:

​SATURDAY 18th JULY 2026 

Two KEY compulsory rehearsals and a launch party.

NEW INFORMATION:

The venue for this day is CULFORD SCHOOL IP28 6TX

Please arrive in time to SING at 11.00am. 

Rehearsal 1: 11.00-2.00pm (with break)

Bring your own lunch

Rehearsal 2: 2.40pm-5.30pm (with tea break)

PARTY TIME 5.30-6.30 A small party to celebrate your part in this project. Share a finger buffet, enjoy a glass and make new friends. Do stay for this if you can! Getting to know one another is a key part of building a successful choir with a beautiful sound.

 

​SUNDAY 19th JULY 2026 

Standard rehearsal BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

NEW INFORMATION:

The venue for this rehearsal is RATTLESDEN PAVILION IP30 0RT

Rehearsal 3:  11.00-2.00pm (with break)

NEW INFORMATION: After a break between 2.00pm and 2.45, this rehearsal will continue from 2.45pm until 4.00pm for everyone who can manage it. If this is difficult for you, don't worry - stick to your original plan. We won't hold it against you. But if you can stay, please do. If you are staying, please bring your own lunch. 

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SATURDAY 8th AUGUST 2026 

Standard rehearsal BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Venue: Bury St Edmunds UNITARIAN MEETING HOUSE IP33 1 RH

Rehearsal 4:  11.00-2.00pm (with break)

NEW INFORMATION: As with 19th July, this rehearsal may be extended. Full details soon.

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FRIDAY 21st AUGUST 2026

KEY rehearsal: compulsory.

Venue: St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1RT

Rehearsal 5: 7.00-10.00pm

 

SATURDAY 22nd AUGUST

FULL REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE.

Venue: St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1RT

 

Living room rehearsals - you don't get this offer every day!

Conductor Leslie Olive writes:

If you have 9 or more singers who are capable and experienced but would enjoy some more leisurely learning time, please let me know, and I will arrange to come to your location and lead a very relaxed, informal rehearsal with you and your friends around the piano.

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All you need to do is get 9 or more friends together, find a suitable location with a piano (perhaps someone’s large living room,) get in touch with me, and between us we will do our best to find a time. Please email me on leslie.olive@suffolkphil.org to explore this possibility.​​ Subject to my availability, this offer is open to you anywhere in Suffolk.

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​​​What will it cost?

There is a participation fee based on the cost of running the rehearsals and also making a contribution to the considerable costs of the performance.  It works out at £85 for the entire project, which is astonishingly good value when compared with a very similar price for one-day workshops around the country with respected chorusmasters. 

 

Can I pay in instalments?

You can pay in instalments of £30, £30, and £25. 

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Too much?... If your circumstances would make it hard for you to find the £85 participation fee, and you don't mind telling us that, we will try to find a bursary funded by a grant-making trust so that you only have to pay £40 - less than half the full participation fee.

 

Student?

If you are aged 25 or under, your participation fee is just £20.

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How do I pay?

If you register your interest now using the buttons at the top or the bottom of this page, it will take you to a questionnaire about your singing experience and provide an opportunity to pay your Participant Fee.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Who is behind this initiative?

This event is promoted by Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra and features the English Arts Chorale as the nucleus of an extended choir. 

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Who are The English Arts Chorale?

The English Arts Chorale is an auditioned voluntary choir founded and conducted by Leslie Olive. The Chorale has performed at the Barbican Centre, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and in many cathedrals nationwide. Concerts in 2025 included the St Matthew Passion to a packed audience in Chichester Cathedral and the Verdi Requiem from memory at Eastbourne's Congress Theatre in a programme featuring members of the Kanneh-Mason family. The English Arts Chorale's first performance in East Anglia was at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in 1991 with the Verdi Requiem from memory and in 1992 the Beethoven Missa Solemnis. They have been frequent visitors since.

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What edition of Mendelssohn's ELIJAH will I need to sing from?

We will use the Novello edition in English. There are TWO versions of the Novello edition - "old" Novello and "new" Novello, but there are hardly any differences between them, so you can confidently use either version. The handful of minor differences which do exist will be easily clarified in rehearsal. Leslie will be using the NEW Novello for the rehearsals.

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Can I REGISTER NOW (with NO financial commitment yet)

The payment system for your Participant Fee is now available, but you can register your interest, without financial commitment, by clicking on the link below this paragraph which will take you to our Elijah Singers' Questionnaire. At this stage completing the questionnaire commits you to nothing, so please go ahead and tell us if this sounds like something you would enjoy. The only thing we need from you now is your consent to our holding your details on file for the remainder of 2026. ​​