Reading Festival Chorus meets at Wesley Methodist Church Hall, Queen’s Road, Reading RG1 4BW on Monday evenings in term time from 7.30 to 9.30, where some parking is available. We have about 65 members currently. As well as preparing for concerts, there is a thriving post-rehearsal pub group, and various social events, including a wonderful evening with carols to celebrate Christmas.
Music director
Since 2019 , RFC has been lucky enough to be conducted by Greg Hallam.
Greg Hallam is an esteemed choral director, singer and teacher. He is Music Director of Reading Festival Chorus, Bracknell Choral Society, Swansea Bach Choir and Swindon Choral Society.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music, in 2019 Greg was awarded an ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) for his significant contribution to the music profession.
He is particularly proud to have helped set up the London Youth Choir, directing their boys and training choirs and delivering workshops as part of their ‘Aspire’ scheme. Greg was Assistant Music Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain for several years and founded the Ulster Youth Junior Choir.
As singing teacher at Wellington College, Dauntsey’s School and Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, Greg teaches individual lessons to young singers aged 8-18. He has delivered workshops for the Worcester College Chapel Choir (Oxford), provided vocal tuition to their choral scholars, and has helped produce four of their recordings.
He is visiting tutor to postgraduate choral conducting students at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, guiding them in use of gesture and technique and how to lead efficient and effective rehearsals. Greg's conducting and rehearsing style is drawn from his experiences as a singer. As a baritone, Greg has sung with a number of groups including London Voices, Philharmonia Voices, Voces8 and Dieci Voices.
In addition to directing his weekly choirs, Greg is in demand to lead residential workshops. In 2026, he will conduct choral courses in Salisbury, Cambridge, Cirencester and Sherborne.
Photo credit @bentomlinphotography.
Accompanist
Judith began learning the piano at the age of six and went on to study Music and German at the University of Southampton where she specialised in piano accompaniment, accompanying many music students for their final recitals, as well as the University Choral Society.
She has been the the regular accompanist for Reading Festival Chorus and the Twyford Singers for the past 13+ years, and occasional accompanist for numerous other local choirs and operatic societies, as well as accompanying for music exams and recitals. Highlights include playing in the pit at the Hexagon for Reading Operatic Society’s ‘West Side Story’ and almost mastering the piano part for Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods.’
Judith teaches piano at Crosfields school in Reading. She also plays the flute, passing her Grade 5 with distinction just before lockdown, and plays in a local flute choir. She recently starting taking violin lessons and hopes to be able to take exams on the violin too. She’ll then think about what instrument to learn next! She also helps to lead worship at Emmanuel Church in Woodley.
Judith has recently started running. Her goal for 2026 is to visit as many different Park Run venues as possible and also run her first 10k race. She also holds a 1st Dan black belt in Taekwondo.
RFC is very lucky to have had John Lill, CBE, as its Patron since 1983.
For inclusion in the programme for Dream of Gerontius in June 2025 he wrote: ‘It’s wonderful that such a rarity of outstanding artistic progress continues with the Reading Festival Chorus. Their talent, enthusiasm and sheer hard work are truly admirable.’
Music director
Since 2019 , RFC has been lucky enough to be conducted by Greg Hallam.Greg Hallam is an esteemed choral director, singer and teacher. He is Music Director of Reading Festival Chorus, Bracknell Choral Society, Swansea Bach Choir and Swindon Choral Society.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music, in 2019 Greg was awarded an ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) for his significant contribution to the music profession.
He is particularly proud to have helped set up the London Youth Choir, directing their boys and training choirs and delivering workshops as part of their ‘Aspire’ scheme. Greg was Assistant Music Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain for several years and founded the Ulster Youth Junior Choir.
As singing teacher at Wellington College, Dauntsey’s School and Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, Greg teaches individual lessons to young singers aged 8-18. He has delivered workshops for the Worcester College Chapel Choir (Oxford), provided vocal tuition to their choral scholars, and has helped produce four of their recordings.
He is visiting tutor to postgraduate choral conducting students at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, guiding them in use of gesture and technique and how to lead efficient and effective rehearsals. Greg's conducting and rehearsing style is drawn from his experiences as a singer. As a baritone, Greg has sung with a number of groups including London Voices, Philharmonia Voices, Voces8 and Dieci Voices.
In addition to directing his weekly choirs, Greg is in demand to lead residential workshops. In 2026, he will conduct choral courses in Salisbury, Cambridge, Cirencester and Sherborne.
Photo credit @bentomlinphotography.
Accompanist
Judith began learning the piano at the age of six and went on to study Music and German at the University of Southampton where she specialised in piano accompaniment, accompanying many music students for their final recitals, as well as the University Choral Society.She has been the the regular accompanist for Reading Festival Chorus and the Twyford Singers for the past 13+ years, and occasional accompanist for numerous other local choirs and operatic societies, as well as accompanying for music exams and recitals. Highlights include playing in the pit at the Hexagon for Reading Operatic Society’s ‘West Side Story’ and almost mastering the piano part for Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods.’
Judith teaches piano at Crosfields school in Reading. She also plays the flute, passing her Grade 5 with distinction just before lockdown, and plays in a local flute choir. She recently starting taking violin lessons and hopes to be able to take exams on the violin too. She’ll then think about what instrument to learn next! She also helps to lead worship at Emmanuel Church in Woodley.
Judith has recently started running. Her goal for 2026 is to visit as many different Park Run venues as possible and also run her first 10k race. She also holds a 1st Dan black belt in Taekwondo.
Patron
RFC is very lucky to have had John Lill, CBE, as its Patron since 1983.
For inclusion in the programme for Dream of Gerontius in June 2025 he wrote: ‘It’s wonderful that such a rarity of outstanding artistic progress continues with the Reading Festival Chorus. Their talent, enthusiasm and sheer hard work are truly admirable.’
