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Jersey Festival Choir

Our Origins

One Conversation. One Concert. A Lasting Legacy.

The story of Jersey Festival Choir began in the summer of 1955. While attending a choral course at Canford School in Dorset, Jersey musician John Lobb met the distinguished conductor Leslie Woodgate. During their conversations, John asked whether Leslie would consider travelling to Jersey to conduct Handel's Messiah. Leslie agreed — on one condition. A choir large enough to perform one of the greatest works in the choral repertoire would have to be assembled.

Bringing Jersey Together

At the time, no single choir on the Island was large enough to perform Messiah. Rather than accepting defeat, John brought together singers from several of Jersey's choirs, including the Jersey Gleemen, Jersey Ladies Choir, Vauxhall Ladies Choir and the Jersey Evening Institute Choir. Under the direction of Stanley Sackett, with John Lobb accompanying rehearsals, these individual choirs became one.

Continuing the Vision

From the very beginning, the Choir's purpose was clear: to perform the great masterpieces of the choral repertoire to the highest possible standard, while remaining open to anyone with a love of singing.

That vision remains unchanged today.

For more than seventy years, generations of singers have continued the tradition begun in 1956, performing works by Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Verdi and many others for audiences across Jersey.

What started with a single conversation has become one of the Island's longest-standing and most cherished musical institutions.

From a single performance of Messiah grew a choir that has brought the great choral masterpieces to Jersey for more than seventy years.

A Historic First Performance

On 29 May 1956, the newly formed choir performed Handel's Messiah at a packed Wesley Grove Church as part of the inaugural Jersey Festival of Music.

The Jersey Evening Post described it as:

"The most outstanding musical occasion in memory."

What had begun as a one-off collaboration quickly proved something much more significant.The singers chose to remain together, and the Jersey Festival Choir was born.

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