more arts.

Emmbrook Sports & Social Club, The Club House, Lowther Road, Wokingham RG41 1JB

How to get there.

The Whitty Theatre, Luckley House School, Luckley Road, Wokingham RG40 3EU

How to get there.

The Royal British Legion Club, Woodward Cl, Winnersh, Wokingham RG41 5LP

How to get there.

Wokingham Music Club - a great place to go on a Friday night.

Tickets in advance from www.ticketsource.co.uk/wokinghammusicclub (Booking fee applies) or on the door.

Food and drink available.

The Wokingham Music Club is open on the 3rd Friday of each month and some Mondays, too.

Wellington College Chapel, Wellington College, Duke's Ride, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 7PU

How to get there.

Bracknell Choral Society Christmas Concert: Handel 'Messiah'

Join Bracknell Choral Society for a performance of Handel's oratorio Messiah in the impressive surroundings of Wellington College Chapel.

Soloists:

• Alexandra Stevenson, soprano
• Sarah Anne Champion, mezzo soprano
• Will Wright, tenor
• Will Harmer, bass

With British Sinfonietta. Conductor: Greg Hallam.

Tickets: £18, (accompanied Under-18s £5) including a programme & mince pie, available online through our website at www.bracknellchoral.org.uk or from members of the choir, or on the door. Refreshments available.

More information about BCS: www.bracknellchoral.org.uk.

Eton College Chapel, High Street, Eton, Berkshire SL4 6DW

How to get there.

Windsor & Eton Choral Society: Dvořák - 'Mass in D'

Two major fascinating works from Windsor & Eton Choral Society by Anton Dvořák and John Rutter will make up a very fine programme in Eton College Chapel.

John Rutter's setting of the Requiem is wonderfully composed and especially moving, with a brilliantly joyful Sanctus. When the score was first published there were numerous fine performances and these included five hundred in America in the first six months.

Dvořák’s Mass in D major is a glorious lyrical work throughout. The opening Kyrie has a really appealing melody which works up to a highly effective crescendo half way through the movement. When this was performed at a Prom Concert in the Royal Albert Hall, the audience of six thousand people burst into applause in the middle of this opening movement.

Conductor: Tim Johnson.

Tickets: £9 to £24, from the choir's website at www.w-ecs.org.uk/home/concerts or call 01628 528041 or online at TicketSource (Booking fee applies) .

More information about Windsor & Eton Choral Society: www.w-ecs.org.uk.

Church of St Peter & St Paul,
Church Lane, Shiplake, Reading RG9 4BS

How to get there.

Tamesis Chamber Choir Concert: 'Of Shepherds and Kings: Music for Epiphany'

Tamesis invita you to make that Christmassy feeling last just a little longer, after all the stress and cooking and present-buying is over and you can relax?!

Our Epiphany concert celebrates the arrival of the three Kings and the shepherds in Bethlehem. We will of course be singing Cornelius's timeless The Three Kings but will also perform a beautiful piece by the same name by Jonathan Dove. Listen to it sung by VOCES8 to whet your appetite.

We will also be singing music by Chilcott (The Shepherds' Carol, Epiphany), Gjeilo (a beautiful arrangement of The First Nowell), Berlioz (The Shepherds' Farewell), Will Todd (My Lord is come), Rutter (The Shepherd's Pipe Carol) and much more.

Musical Director: Louise Rapple.

Tickets: £12 by calling 0118 9344 3200 or online at www.tamesischamberchoir.co.uk or from Sarah Finch by email.

More information: www.tamesischamberchoir.co.uk.

Wokingham Baptist Church, Milton Road,
Wokingham RG40 1DE

How to get there.

YouTooMusic: Re-discovering your musical talent

YouTooMusic workshops are held most months on the last Saturday. Keep up with the latest news on Facebook.

Are you a 'Used To' Musician?

• Did you ever play an instrument at Grade 3/4 or above?
• Would you like to play again?
• Do you still own the instrument you ‘used to’ play?
• Or do you still have access to one?

If the answer to these questions is 'Yes' and you are interested in rediscovering your musical talent as part of a 'Used To' music workshop then come along.

Cost: £15 per session.

For more information contact Robin Scurlock right now by email or call Robin on 07768 045284.

More information about YTM: www.facebook.com/pg/youtoomusic/events/?ref=page_internal.

Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road Campus, Reading RG1 5AQ

How to get there.

West Forest Sinfonia: Orchestral Concert

West Forest Sinfonia’s winter concert this year is not to be missed.

Join us this January for a programme that surely needs no introduction, featuring at its heart Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. Soprano Alexandra Stevenson is the soloist in Tchaikovsky's beautiful Letter Scene from Eugene Onegin. Alexandra recently performed at the Royal Opera House for Classic FM, and as an oratorio and operatic soloist she has sung at Fairfield Halls, Shipley Arts Festival with trumpeter Christian Steele-Perkins, Chelsea Schubert Festival and the Usher Hall, Edinburgh.

The programme in this concert:

• Prokofiev: Cinderella Suite No.3
• Tchaikovsky: 'Letter Scene' from Eugene Onegin (Soloist: Alexandra Stevenson, soprano)
• Stravinsky: Rite of Spring

Conductor: Philip Ellis. Leader Giles Wade. With Alexandra Stevenson, soprano.

Tickets: £15 (£5 Students & under 18's), season tickets £40 available by email or call Stephanie Cole on 07977 050265 or online at WeGotTickets (Booking fee applies) or at the door.

More information: www.westforestsinfonia.org.

The Holt School, Holt Lane, Wokingham RG41 1EE

How to get there.

Wokingham Choral Society: 'Choral Workshop' - Love Through the Ages

Wokingham Choral Society invites you to take part in a Choral Workshop, entitled "Love Through the Ages" and featuring

• Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart)
• If ye love me (Tallis)
• Wedding March (Wagner)

The workshop will be led by tenor Anthony Harris.

Anthony trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is a tenor. He sings the classical repertoire, both Oratorio and Opera and has a lot of experience working with both youth and adult choirs.

He is involved in the training of singers as a choral and workshop leader and singing teacher, including The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain as well as other Choral Societies and Choirs.

Anthony led the WCS Choral Workshops in 2018 & 2019 and provides an unforgettable experience!

Doors open at 10am and the workshop begins at 10.30am. There will be a break at 12.45pm - bring your own packed lunch. Tea, coffee and cake will be provided in the afternoon break.

Cost: £20 including music to keep.

Book your place now by downloading and returning the booking form (PDF format) or booking form (Word format) before Friday 21st February, 2020.

Find out more about us at: www.wokingham-choral-society.org.uk.

The Beaconsfield School, Wattleton Road, Beaconsfield HP9 1SJ

How to get there.

Wooburn Singers: 'Come and Sing' Walton - Belshazzar's Feast

Wooburn Singers next Come & Sing day is a chance to sing:

• William Walton: Belshazzar's Feast

Experience a day singing this great piece.

Enjoy a run-through performance at 5pm with players from Slough Philharmonic Orchestra (family & friends welcome).

Conductor: Tom Hammond-Davies. Accompanist: Simon Howat.

Cost: £20 (£15 group rate, students £5) including coffee / tea, and loan of score if required. Ploughman's Lunch option available for £6 (must be pre-booked and prepaid by 24th February).

You can register for the day by returning the the booking form (Microsoft Word document) or the booking form (Adobe PDF format) and arrange online payment to Wooburn Singers, sort code 30-96-54, account no. 01029546. Please quote C&S as the reference, or contact us by email.

More information: www.wooburnsingers.org.uk.

Royal British Legion, Eversley Road, Reading, Berkshire RG2 9PR

How to get there.

Live Country Music

Enjoy "Live" Band Country Music to either dance to or to listen to by the UK's top professional bands every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at The Royal British Legion, Arborfield.

Dress smart casual or western.

Admission on the door: £7. No children under 14. No line dancing. No membership required.

Now in our 32nd year! For more details see www.h-bar-c-country.co.uk or call H-BAR-C Country on 0118 989 1354 or 07720 353879

Cantley House Hotel, Milton Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 5QG

How to get there.

Throughout the year Cantley House Hotel is offering a series of events featuring dinner and entertainment (mostly musical!)

For more information contact Emma on (0118) 978 9912 or contact us by email to book your place.

Performing in the Berkshire
and Hampshire areas

Beech Hill Concert Band

The Beech Hill Concert Band was formed in the late 1990s by a group of professional, semi-professional and amateur musicians, mainly from the Reading area, to give them the opportunity to play music in rehearsal and at concerts they would not play in their every day music environment.

It was also decided to give concerts, free of charge, for the benefit of local charities. In this they have been very successful, giving many concerts and raising thousands of pounds.

We play a variety of music such as songs from the shows, film themes, marches, orchestral music, swing music and modern pop classics and our programmes try to cater for all audiences, ensuring that there's something for everyone.

The band comprises mainly amateur musicians who love to make music for the sake of it, so we don't charge for our services but we do have a professional MD and often need to hire professional musician to fill key parts when our members are unavailable. The costs for these people (£100-£150) have to be recovered from the concert revenue but otherwise the income from concerts goes to the organisers and their chosen charities.

More information: visit the band's website www.beechhillband.co.uk.

Music Room, St. Gabriel's, Sandleford Priory, Newbury RG20 9BD

How to get there.

Sandham Singers Welcomes New Members

Sandham Singers are led by Janet Coxwell.

If you would like stimulating weekly rehearsals and the opportunity to perform a wide repertoire of music then please contact us by calling Jane Pike on 07780 767408 or contact her by email.

More information about Sandham Singers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sandhamsingers.

d:two, 55-57 Market Place, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2AA

How to get there.

Henley Choral Society is looking for more men to join its tenor and bass sections - and there are no auditions.

Dynamic new Musical Director Benjamin Goodson explains: 'The men in our tenor and bass sections do a magnificent job - but we need more. If you are a man who sang at school or college and want to get back into singing, or has always wanted to sing and never found the right opportunity - then here is your chance.'

Henley Choral Society consists of over 100 non-auditioned singers and, as well as bringing top high quality concerts to the local community, aims to encourage the next generation of singers.

Benjamin Goodson continues: 'there are no auditions to join HCS - all you need is a love of music. Our group is large enough to accommodate all abilities and we provide lots of support. Men of Henley and the surrounding area - come back to singing! We would love to hear from you.'

Call Membership Secretary Wendy Hawkins on 01491 576929 or contact Wendy by email or contact Benjamin Goodson direct by email.

More information about Henley Choral Society: www.henleychoralsociety.org.uk.

Bulmershe School, Chequers Way, Woodley RG5 3EU

How to get there.

Would you like to sing with Thames Valley Chorus?

Under the inspiring leadership of Musical Director, Liz Croft, Thames Valley Chorus (TVC) is going from strength to strength. The chorus now has over 40 singers with many having joined through one of our highly enjoyable and successful 'Learn to Sing' courses.

Singing in an engaging and entertaining four-part barbershop style, TVC performs with energy, commitment and enthusiasm appearing at a wide range of private and public events throughout the region. As well as performing locally TVC also enjoy taking part in competitions in different parts of the UK as well as having trips abroad, most recently to Cork and Düsseldorf.

If our type of singing appeals to you then come along to one of our Tuesday evening rehearsals where you can be assured of a warm welcome. Also keep an eye out for our next 'Learn to Sing' course. If you are interested in joining TVC or finding our more about us call Phil on 0118 9774257 or contact us by email.

For more information about TVC: www.tvchorus.co.uk.

Charvil Village Hall, 9 Park Lane, Charvil RG10 9TR

How to get there.

Tapestry Choir is an all-female choir based in Berkshire.

We are an intimate group of fifteen voices and are currently looking for new members in all voice parts.

As a group we focus mainly on classical repertoire written for female voices from the 19th and 20th centuries, including pieces by Holst, Britten, Poulenc and Debussy.

We currently put on three concerts a year, as well as a summer concert.

We rehearse on Tuesday mornings in Charvil between 10.45am and 12.15pm during term time. If you are a reasonably confident performer, can read music and are interested in joining us we would love to hear from you.

Please contact Sarah Latto by email for more information.

More information about us: www.tapestrychoir.org.uk

Charvil Village Hall, 9 Park Lane, Charvil RG10 9TR

How to get there.

Suzanne Newman leads a choir for girls between the ages of 10 and 18. The choir is called Jewel Tones.

We sing folk songs, popular songs and songs from music theatre. We have a few spaces in the choir.

For more information about Jewel Tones contact Suzanne Newman on 0118 934 0589 or see: www.jeweltones.co.uk.