Experience a candlelit journey into the spiritual heart of a medieval Christmas. Following on from their sell-out appearance last year, Opus Anglicanum return to Wivenhoe with their most popular Christmas concert,Mediaeval Carols. From simple Gregorian chant and devotional polyphony to joyous & raucous Christmas songs (some of which are over 800 years old), hear beautiful mediaeval readings interspersed within the music creating peaceful moments of quiet reflection. One of the UKs Top 10 Carol Concerts The Guardian If you want to escape the usual seasonal fare completely, you could do no better than Mediaeval Carols. Opus Anglicanum presents a feast of words and music of the very highest quality. RSCM

The concert will feature Wivenhoe Orchestra together with 4 wind players who have formed themselves into a Sax Quartet to play separately during the evening. The orchestra will be playing pieces from works by well-known composers including Bach, Holst and Sullivan, an overture from France, a piece for solo cor anglais, a trumpet duet and a clarinet solo by Alice Mary Smith, a 19th century English composer. The ticket price includes a complimentary glass of wine or soft drink. Young people (aged 14 and under) are very welcome at this concert and for half price. Please contact Peter Hill directly for a Young Persons ticket - [email protected] This is the 8th time that Pam Garland, Leader of the Wivenhoe Orchestra will perform for us in St Mary's Church with its wonderful acoustics. We look forward to them each year.

We are very fortunate to have the Churchfitters coming to Wivenhoe this year. Their origins began in Colchester in the late 70s and early 80s, and where they still have a big following. These days they live in France. The Churchfitters is a band like no other. A double bass made out of a saucepan, heart-wrenching vocals accompanied by a musical saw or a glass harp, foot-stompingly fast fiddle mixed with infectious funk-rock rhythms and traditional tunes reinvigorated with mesmerising jazz sax. These three virtuoso musicians from England and France strut their stuff on a stage that bristles with instruments - adding flute, banjo, dulcimer, tin whistle, guitar, ukulele, electric hub-cap bass-bouzouki and a sackful of percussion to their ensemble. And let’s not forget the unique ‘bing-bong’ machine made out of hack-saw blades. Throw in some exquisite harmonies, a slew of startlingly original songs and a few jokes that create instant rapport and you’ve got a high energy show that always leaves audiences cheering. Once seen, never forgotten.