Try Us
Singing is fun and good for you! Come and join Reading Festival Chorus (currently 65 or so singers) in rehearsing and performing diverse and beautiful choral music. Expert and sympathetic musical direction means we achieve high standards.
Come along to the first or second rehearsal of each term to try us out. New members are required to do a short audition after a few weeks – but these are not at all demanding! (see Auditions).
If you are unfamiliar with reading music see 'Getting started with sheet music' (a short guide created by Derek Harrison in collaboration with Making Music). It covers key topics such as navigating the score and how to follow the pitch and rhythm of the music.
Practice tracks are usually available for practice at home between rehearsals. Do get in touch via Contact Us and join us in bringing some weekly joy into your life.
Fees
Members pay an annual fee to meet our running costs. Our current full rate is £217 but we have flexible rates depending on your circumstances.
Music hire
All sheet music is sourced by our librarian. Copies can be hired, but occasionally have to be bought.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals with Reading Festival Chorus are both fun and challenging.
We rehearse on Monday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.30pm from September to June (or early July) with breaks over Christmas, Easter as well as the summer, and usually half-terms as well. Rehearsals are in Reading town centre at Wesley Church Hall.
There is some free parking at the church. For those travelling by bus take route 13, 14, 17, 4 or 4a (also route 850 operated by Carousel Buses). The stop for eastward travel is outside the Huntley and Palmers building stop 4 and westwards at Eldon Road. Timetables can be found on the Reading Buses website.
Members should be prepared to put in extra work between rehearsals to ensure a good standard of performance. The calendar of rehearsal and concert dates is available in the Members' area. On joining you will be given access to the Members' Area using a personal username and password.
