morearts : more arts for Wokingham

H-Bar-C: Live Country Music

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

How to get there.

Enjoy live country music by the UK's top bands every Thursday evening 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 30th year! For more details call H-BAR-C Country on 07720 353879

Music @ Reading Lunchtime Concerts

Van Emden Theatre, HumSS Building, Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading (except June 18th - see below)

How to get there.

• Tuesday 21 May: Seonaid Dey, Scottish Fiddle
• Tuesday 28 May: Lydia Hart, Soprano, Mark Bassett, Baritone, Peter Toye, Piano
• Tuesday 4 June: Yentil Lim, Violin, Rebecca Mahon, Soprano, Marco Panariello & Peter Toye, Piano
• Tuesday 11 June: Samantha Buzzard, Oboe, Heather Ryall, Clarinet
• Tuesday 18 June: Students from the Institute of Education, Sally Goodworth, Piano
  NOTE: The concert on 18th June will be in the Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road, Reading
• Tuesday 25 June: Anna Huntley, Mezzo Soprano, Jens Franke, Guitar

All are welcome. Entrance is FREE. No ticket required.

For more iformation about the Music @ Reading Lunchtime Concerts visit the website (opens a new browser window).

Baroque Music Concerts in Wokingham Town Hall

Wokingham Town Hall, Market Place, Wokingham RG40 1AS

How to get there.

Baroque Music in Wokingham Town Hall is a series of professional concerts in Wokingham's most magnificent concert venue.

All concerts start at 8pm and last approximately 1 hour with no interval:

• Wed 29 May, 2013: Lynda Sayce) (lutes and guitars
• Wed 26 Jun, 2013: Gareth Hoddinott and Laura Garwin (baroque trumpets)

Tickets: £12.50 for each concert.

Buy tickets:

• online at WeGotTickets [Booking fee applies] (search for 'Wokingham')
• or online at www.wokinghamconcerts.co.uk
• or in person from the Wokingham Library (cash or cheque only)
• or by post from Wokingham Concerts, 28 Tanhouse Lane, Wokingham RG41 2RL enclosing a cheque made payable to "Wokingham Concerts"
• or at the door on the night of the concert, subject to availability.

More information about the concert series: www.wokinghamconcerts.co.uk.

Crowthorne Musical Players: 'Fiddler on the Roof'

Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell RG12 7PA

How to get there.

Crowthorne Musical Players presents Fiddler on the Roof.

In the Russian village of Anatevka, Tevye the milkman and his wife Golde are struggling to bring up their family of five girls in the traditional Jewish way.

But this is 1905 and times are changing. While the Tsar is stirring up anti-Jewish sentiment, Bolsheviks are plotting his downfall.

Back at home, Tevye's strong-willed daughters would rather choose their own husbands - however 'unsuitable' - than have marriages arranged by the local matchmaker.

This much-loved shows portrays life, laughter and love in difficult time, with famous songs such as Matchmaker, Matchmaker, If I were a Rich Man and Sunrise Street.

Book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.

Director: Lucy Seymour. Musical Director: Nick Austin.

Tickets: Tue £11, Wed-Thu £15, Conc £14, Fri-Sat eve £16, Sat Mat £13, Conc £12 from South Hill Park box office at www.southhillpark.org.uk or telephone 01344 484123.

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Joseph Winberger Ltd on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.

More information: www.cmp-berks.org.uk.

Lunchtime Recital: Woodwind Quintet of REME Band

Town Hall, Market Place, Wokingham RG40 1AS

How to get there.

Based at Arborfield Garrison near Reading, the Band of the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers performs at many prestigious military and civilian events all over the world and enjoys an outstanding reputation for musical excellence.

On this occasion the REME band's Woodwind Quintet will give a recital.

Tickets: £2 payable on the day which includes refreshments in the interval. Call 0118 974 0882 for more information.

All profits will be donated to the Wokingham Town Mayor's Charity.

Reading's 'Phantom of the Opera' Big Sing!

Wesley Centre, Queens Road, Reading RG1 4BW

How to get there.

Back in February, 140 people from all over the south of England came together to sing their hearts out at our Les Mis BIG sing! It was a wonderful afternoon and a moving experience for everyone there, with families and people of all ages singing together.

And now The Witt Studio is back again, this time with The Phantom of the Opera - one of the best-loved and most successful theatrical pieces of the past 30 years.

The grandeur and drama of this fabulous musical continues to captivate fresh audiences every day.

So, on Saturday May 25th we invite YOU to take part in a special afternoon to sing some of the best songs from the show and become part of this fabulous story in Reading's Phantom of the Opera Big Sing!

Spend an afternoon singing your favourite songs from the show: The Phantom of the Opera, Think of Me, All I Ask of You, Masquerade, Wishing you were Somehow Here Again and Past the Point of No Return.

By popular demand, we will also revisit two of your favourite songs from our recent Les Mis BIG Sing!

Over the course of an afternoon, people will learn all these popular songs under the entertaining guidance of professional vocal coaches Anthony Witt (Music Director of The Witt Studio) and Soprano Philippa Healey.

There are no auditions, and people are not asked to sing by themselves - everybody is welcome to take part whether you are an experienced singer, or want to try singing in a group for the first time. Music copies and teaching is provided - just bring your masks for the 'masquerade' song!

At 5.30pm, the afternoon will finish with a rousing presentation of these songs alongside inspiring soloists. Friends and family are invited to enjoy this BIG sing free of charge!

Workshop tickets: £20 (£12 concessions for current Witt Studio Chorus Members and under 18s) from www.thewittstudio.com or by email.

Parking is available close by at Queen's Road public car park.

More information: www.thewittstudio.com.

Baroque Music in Wokingham Town Hall: Lynda Sayce (lutes and guitars)

Wokingham Town Hall, Market Place, Wokingham RG40 1AS

How to get there.

With over one hundred recordings to her name, Lynda Sayce is one of best known lutenists of her generation. She is the principal lutenist with the Kings Consort, Ex Cathedra and The Musicians of the Globe.

She brings her astonishing "lute road-show" to Wokingham Town Hall in which she performs on, and explains, a wide range of early plucked instruments from across Europe and beyond. Not to be missed!

Please note: this concert will finish at approximately 9.15pm.

Tickets: £12.50

This concert is one of a series of eight Baroque Music Concerts in Wokingham Town Hall on the last Wednesday of each month.

Buy tickets:

• online at WeGotTickets [Booking fee applies] (search for 'Wokingham')
• or online at www.wokinghamconcerts.co.uk
• or in person from the Wokingham Library (cash or cheque only)
• or by post from Wokingham Concerts, 28 Tanhouse Lane, Wokingham RG41 2RL enclosing a cheque made payable to "Wokingham Concerts"
• or at the door on the night of the concert, subject to availability.

More information about the concert series: www.wokinghamconcerts.co.uk.

Henley Choral Society: Verdi 'Requiem'

Reading Concert Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QH

How to get there.

Henley Choral Society and Southern Sinfonia return to the Concert Hall to perform Verdi's thrilling and dramatic masterpiece, the Requiem.

Inspirational young Musical Director Will Dawes conducts over 200 performers on stage including full symphony orchestra, double chorus and an outstanding cast of soloists.

Soloists:

• Elisabeth Meister, Soprano
• Kate Symonds-Joy, Mezzo-Soprano
• David Butt Philip, Tenor
• James Oldfield, Bass

With the Southern Sinfonia.

Musical Director: Will Dawes.

This is Will Dawes' last performance as Musical Director of Henley Choral Society and it promises to be an exceptional farewell. If you love spectacle, if you love opera, if you love drama - join us for a sensational musical experience!

Tickets: £16, under 18s £12 from the Box Office at 01491 572795 or Reading Arts Box Office online at www.readingarts.com (booking fee applies) or by calling 0118 960 6060 or in person from The Hexagon or Reading Town Hall.

Concert coaches will be running from Henley-on-Thames via Shiplake dropping outside the Concert Hall and return. Coach tickets £7 return, only available from Ticket Secretary 01491 572795.

More information: www.henleychoralsociety.org.uk.

WLOS presents: 'Sweet Charity'

The Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2BP

How to get there.

Woodley Light Operatic Society presents Sweet Charity.

From robbery to accidents, no one's love life can possibly be as eventful and entertaining as that of Miss Charity Hope Valentine - or can it?

Sweet Charity is a tender, poignant and consistently funny look at the adventures, or rather, misadventures in the ways of love encountered by the gullible and guileless lady known as Charity Hope Valentine - dance hall hostess - who always gives her heart, and her earnings, to the wrong man.

Sweet Charity boasts some fabulous show stopping numbers including The Rhythm of Life and Big Spender, and a poignant, consistently funny script. It is a wonderfully uplifting musical that promises to send you home with a smile on your lips.

Directed & choreographed by David Parsonson.
Musical director: Jonathan Heard.

Tickets: £14 to £15 (Concessions available) from 07528 337924 or online at woodleylightoperatic.ticketsource.co.uk.

More information about Woodley Light Operatic Society: www.wlos.co.uk.

Wokingham Choral Society & Choral Academy: 'African Sanctus'

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

How to get there.

Wokingham Choral Society in a joint concert with Wokingham Choral Academy welcome you to a performance of:

   African Sanctus

The full programme features:

• Ralph Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music
• Bob Chilcott: A Little Jazz Mass (with WCA)
• David Fanshawe: African Sanctus (with WCA)

Soloist: Jenny Stafford, soprano.

With the London Productions Orchestra.

Conductors: Alexander Chaplin and Jo McNally with Benjamin Woodward, piano and Andrew McKenna, piano.

Tickets: £17 (£5 under 18s & students), available from Wokingham Information Centre in the Town Hall; Newbury Building Society, Wokingham; Bookends, Wokingham or by email or from WCS choir members or online from WeGotTickets (Booking fee applies).

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

Crowthorne Choral Society Concert

Dining Hall, Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 7PU

How to get there.

Crowthorne Choral Society invites you to a concert called Feel the Spirit.

The programme features Spirituals & Jazz pieces by John Rutter & Bob Chilcott including:

• Feel the Spirit - seven spirituals arr. John Rutter
• A Little Jazz Mass - by Bob Chilcott

Mezzo-Soprano soloist: Christina Gill.

Conductor: Simon Williamson

Refreshments will be served during the interval.

Tickets: £12 including a glass of wine (students £2) from the box office on 01344 778185 or on the door.

More information: www.crowthornechoral.org.uk.

Trinity Concert Band June Concert: 'No Strings Attached'

Trinity Church, Chalfont Close, Earley, Reading, RG6 5HZ

How to get there.

At Trinity Concert Band's June concert, a selection of orchestral favourites form the theme of this Concert which will feature Fanfare for A Common Man by Aaron Copland, and Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein.

Our special solo feature will be the UK premiere of Derek Bourgeouis' Concerto for Bass Trombone performed by Jonathan Warburton, an internationally known professional trombone player.

Tickets at £10 up to 24hrs before the concert are available from the Box Office on 0118 969 0925. Tickets on the door are £12. Children under 16 years are free when accompanied by a paying member of the audience.

More information: www.trinityband.co.uk.

West Forest Sinfonia: Orchestral Concert

St Paul's Church, Reading Road, Wokingham RG41 1EH

How to get there.

In this concert by West Forest Sinfonia the programme includes:

• Respighi: Botticelli Pictures
• Martinů: Toccata e due canzoni
• Sibelius: Swan of Tuonela
• Stravinsky: Firebird (1919 suite)

Conductor: Philip Ellis.

Tickets: £15 (£14 concessions, £1 under 18's), available from Nicola Brown on 0118 933 2435 or by email or from Wokingham Town Hall Information Centre 0118 978 3185 or at the door.

More information: www.westforestsinfonia.org.

Baroque Music in Wokingham Town Hall: Gareth Hoddinott and Laura Garwin (baroque trumpets)

Wokingham Town Hall, Market Place, Wokingham RG40 1AS

How to get there.

Gareth Hoddinott and Laura Garwin give a resounding finish to the 2012-13 season of concerts with a selection of music by sixteenth and seventeenth century master composers from southern Europe.

Tickets: £12.50

This concert is one of a series of eight Baroque Music Concerts in Wokingham Town Hall on the last Wednesday of each month.

Buy tickets:

• online at WeGotTickets [Booking fee applies] (search for 'Wokingham')
• or online at www.wokinghamconcerts.co.uk
• or in person from the Wokingham Library (cash or cheque only)
• or by post from Wokingham Concerts, 28 Tanhouse Lane, Wokingham RG41 2RL enclosing a cheque made payable to "Wokingham Concerts"
• or at the door on the night of the concert, subject to availability.

More information about the concert series: www.wokinghamconcerts.co.uk.

Under The Skies Concerts in Elms Field

Elms Field, Wokingham RG40 2LD

How to get there.

Tickets are now on sale for the Under the Sky Concerts in Elms Field, Wokingham.

Book your tickets now.

Friday 28th June

• Toploader
• plus Amys Ghost
• and Guests

Tickets in advance £14.50. Doors open 6.30pm.

Saturday 29th June

• Slough Philharmonic Orchestra
• plus Thames Valley Chorus

Tickets in advance £14.50. Doors open 6pm.

Sunday 30th June

• Laurie Holloway and his Trio
• plus The MillsTones Dance Band

Tickets in advance £14.50. Doors open 5pm.

Weekend Tickets in Advance: £35.

Click to Book your tickets now.

Food and Bar on site. Bar run by Wokingham Lions with the profit going to Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service.

More information about the concert series: www.undertheskyconcerts.co.uk.

Thames Voyces: Encore! Summer Showstoppers

The Old Gym, Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 7PU

How to get there.

Thames Voyces presents Encore! its Summer Concert which promises a sizzling summer night of show-stopping sings, featuring favourite numbers such as:

• Tequila Samba
• Londonderry Air
• Rachmoninov: Vocalise
• Favourites by Rutter, Stanford etc.

Musical Director: Nick Austin.

Tickets: £12 (£10 concessions) available by calling 0118 9677319 or by email.

Money raised at this concert will help Thames Hospicecare (THc), providing palliative care for adults with cancer and other life limiting illnesses.

More information: www.thamesvoyces.org.uk.

Bracknell Choral Society: 'An Evening of English Music'

The Old Gym, Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 7PU

How to get there.

At this Bracknell Choral Society concert, An Evening of English Music, the programme will include:

• Gibbons: Drop, drop, slow tears
• Handel: Zadok the Priest
• Tallis: Verily, verily, I say unto you
• Tallis: Three tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter
• Parry: I was glad
• Ireland: Greater love hath no man
• Wood: O thou the central orb
• Vaughan Williams: Mystical songs
• Goodall: The Lord is my shepherd
• Flanders and Horovitz: Captain Noah and his floating zoo
• Loewe and Lerner: My Fair Lady

Conductor: Greg Hallam, Baritone: David Ireland, Accompanist: Nick Austin.

Tickets: £14 (Under 18s £4) including refreshments are available from Ceri Price on 01344 772962 or by email or from choir members or at the door.

More information: www.bracknellchoral.org.uk.

Opera at Bearwood present: 'Carmen'

Bearwood Theatre, Bearwood College, Winnersh, WOKINGHAM RG41 5BG

How to get there.

Opera at Bearwood present Bizet's Carmen, sung in English using a translation by Howard Williams (Conductor and musical maestro).

This performance, our first with our new Musical Director, Justin Lavender, will feature a large cast of superb soloists, a children's chorus, the Opera at Bearwood chorus and a full orchestra.

Musical Director: Justin Lavender.
Producer: Eileen Pinkarchevski.

Tickets: £19.50 (concessions for Tue, Wed £17.50) from the OAB Box Office manager on 07580 352006 or contact us by email or download, complete and return to us a booking form (Booking fee 50p per ticket & £1 postage applies) to reserve your seats.

This event will take place in the Bearwood College Theatre. The school has wonderful grounds, in which you are invited to picnic before the performance.

More information: www.operaatbearwood.org.uk.

Calling Girl Singers Aged 10-18!

Charvil Village Hall, Park Lane, Charvil RG10 9TR

How to get there.

Suzanne Newman is starting a new choir for girls between the ages of 10 and 18 from September, 2012. The choir is called Jewel Tones.

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

More information about Jewel Tones: www.jeweltones.co.uk.

Calling Would-be Morris Dancers, Tabor Players & Costume Makers

The oldest record of morris dancing in Reading is in the churchwarden's accounts for St Laurence's Church, Reading.

On 10th August, 1513 they paid 3d for ale for the morris men for dancing for the church dedication day. This means that next year there is a 500th anniversary to celebrate.

Chris Hutchinson is trying to put together a group to dress and perform at St Laurence's on 10th August, 2013 as closely as possible to the way that the original 1513 morris dancers would have done. 1513 is not the oldest record of morris dancing in the UK, but it is the oldest in Reading.

There will undoubtedly be other opportunities to perform in Reading and the South East too.

For a long time historians have been fairly sure what the dancers would have worn and what instruments they played but it is only in recent years that indications of the tunes and dance steps have been discovered. A public re-enactment in Reading on 10th August next year would therefore be a "first".

A small number of dancers from the Reading area are already working on the project. We have called the group Redding Moreys for the time being. The 1513 dancers would have been male and the music provided by a fife and tabor players but we would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in joining us.

It's not often we have a 500th anniversary to celebrate!

For more information: call Chris Hutchinson on 01252 875510 or 07739 216553.