Castle Acre's Community Choir
THE BIG HEART AND SOUL CHOIR
Castle Acre's World Music Community Choir
The Big Heart & Soul Choir was established in 1996 rehearsing all this time in the great singing acoustic of
Castle Acre Village Hall in Norfolk England.
Singers consist of a friendly core group of founder members along with many others who continue to join,
so that the group generally numbers around forty from around the West Norfolk area.
The choir usually gives two concerts a year, one just before Christmas and one during the Summer.
Current Musical Director Linda Roast has been leading the choir since 2017. We also sing with guest Musical Director Jane Wells, who has been involved with the choir for 17 years. Both Musical Directors join forces for the summer concert and bring much to the choir: teaching, rehearsing, conducting, arranging and singing technique skills.
All songs are taught by ear so there is no need to read music and include African, Bulgarian, Georgian, Norwegian, English Folk, Jazz and Pop to name but a few!
​Above all, the emphasis is on the enjoyment of singing.
The Choir rehearse from 7.15 to 9pm at Castle Acre Village Hall.
We are currently working towards our 30 year Anniversary Concert at St James Church, Castle Acre
where we will be singing songs from our
30 year repertoire which hold such good memories.
£15 on the door includes a delicious home made cream tea.
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New singers get two free rehearsals to make sure they like us before signing up,
after which, sessions are £6 each week.
Payments for rehearsals are generally in advance by BACS in six (£36) or seven (£42) week blocks.
For more information, contact our treasurer Ginny email: ginny227@icloud.com
Further information on how to become a choir member, please email lindaroast56@gmail.com
BH&S
30th Anniversary
CONCERT
2026
Sunday 19 July 2026
St James Church Castle Acre
3.30pm - with Afternoon Tea
To celebrate our 30th Anniversary, we will be singing a selection of songs from our 30 year repertoire which hold special memories.
Musical Directors Linda Roast and Jane Wells.
Tickets at the door £15 includes a cream tea
Plus a FABULOUS HAMPER RAFFLE
JOIN THE BIG HEART AND SOUL
...and have a great time
Join the choir or come and see our concerts - you will always be welcome.
Our weekly sessions in Castle Acre Village Hall are from 7.15 every Wednesday during term times -
come and see if you like us - your first two sessions are free! Songs are taught by ear and anyone can join in.
We're a supportive group that welcome new members.
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And once you've settled in, if you want to, you could join us on one of our lively weekends away where
we eat delicious food and sing beautiful songs. This year's weekend away is in glorious market town of Stamford.
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We've been for a couple of great singing trips abroad too!
With previous Musical Director Noralf Mork, who taught the choir for 10 fantastic years, we traveled to his native Norway, singing in Oslo and Bergen. And we’ve been to Corsica, best known musically for its polyphonic choral tradition which is a particular passion of Linda, our current Director, where we sung around Bastia.
Both trips were great fun and we hope to go on more trips in the future!
We often invite guest workshop leaders for special sessions which are open to all to attend.
Come and join us.
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Things that we did around lockdown...
Jane Wells has put together a very sweet 5 minute video made from materials emailed to her, showing what some of the choir have been doing around lockdown.
Pussy cats, dogs, swans, vegetables, flowers, crafts, haircuts, walks and views...just some of the activities we've been up to!
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HELEN BENSIHEM
RIP
16 March 1955 to January 29 2023
Helen was the organiser, fund raiser, comedian and Akela of the choir. She was the heart and soul.
She looked after us for over 25 years and continues to be missed.
Her life was the choir and she ruled us with such generosity and fearlessness.
Our summer concert 2023 was dedicated to her beautiful memory.