Cantemus Choir

Cantemus is a chamber choir of up to 24 singers. It performs music from the 16th Century to 20th Century to a high standard. Each concert is based on six rehearsals so singers are expected to learn their music prior to the first rehearsal. Entry to the choir is by audition, and a one concert probation period. The choir would like to hear from serious experienced choral singers.

Contact:
Mr Ian Haslam
Secretary
25 Cromwell Road
Shaw
Newbury
Berkshire

Telephone: 01635 298421  Evening: 01635 820379
ian.haslam@ntlworld.com

Cecilia Consort

The Cecilia Consort was formed by Janet Coxwell in 1990 and meets for only limited rehearsals preceding each of our 2 or 3 concerts each year.

We sing secular and sacred music from across a broad historical spectrum. Although a chamber choir, we perform both chamber works – often unaccompanied or with organ – and larger works accompanied by orchestra. We continually learn new works and so singers need to be good readers of music.

Contact:
Chair: Lucy Makin
The Grange
Woolton Hill
Newbury
RG20 9TX

Tel: 01635 250832
E-mail: makin_lucy@hotmail.com

Cromwell Singers Choral Society

We welcome new members in any voice part, but especially tenors and basses. There are no formal auditions (we suggest trying us out for a couple of weeks to seek mutual compatibility). Rehearsals are held in Speen Village Hall, Speen Lane, Newbury on Tuesday evenings between 7:45 pm and 9:45 pm.

Contact:
Telephone: (evening) 01635 32504
robert.willis@newbury.net
http://cromwells.newbury.net

Enborne Consort

Small group singing unaccompanied music, both sacred and secular, from the Renaissance to the 20th century. We meet fortnightly, mainly for our own pleasure, but also give occasional concerts and sing for special services in Enborne Church.

Founded by Peter Davies who directed the group for many years, and led now by Roger Bates.

Contact:
Roger Bates
2 Heardman Close
Thatcham
Berkshire
RG19 4FB

Telephone: 01635 865224

Newbury Chamber Choir

We are a chamber choir of 30 to 40 voices who particularly enjoy performing Baroque music but cover a wide variety of other styles.  Although we take our singing seriously we have a fun doing it and are a happy friendly choir.  Our view is that commitment and enthusiasm are just as important as expertise and as a result require no auditions just as mutual trial period.

Rehearsals take place each Tuesday at Thorngrove School, Highclere at 7:30pm during term time.

We mount our main concerts in Newbury, with orchestra at least twice yearly and also smaller scale events in the outlying villages.

Contact:
Clare Owen
12 Salcombe Road
Newbury
Berks
RG14 6ED

Telephone: 01635 36175
chrisclareowen@btopenworld.com

Newbury Choral Society

Newbury Choral Society is a friendly, open choir. We have over 100 members, of all ages ranging from 14 to 70+.

Under our dynamic young conductor Leo Hussain we perform 3 concerts a year, with professional musicians and soloists, in venues such as Douai Abbey and The Corn Exchange, Newbury. Our repertoire is wide ranging, ranging historically from Monteverdi to Gorecki, Pärt and Tavener, and musically encompasses Verdi's requiem, David Fanshawe's African Sanctus. Recent performances include Mozart's Requiem, Tippett's A Child of our Time and a powerful performance of Rachmaninov's vespers. Future concerts include Brahms German Requiem and Bach's St Matthew Passion.

Membership of the Society is open to all who enjoy choral singing, can read music, and can promise a regular commitment. The Society meets regularly Monday evenings at 7.30pm at the Newbury Methodist Church Hall.

Contact:
Mike Barthorpe
Secretary
4 Lawrence Mead
Kintbury
Hungerford
Berkshire
RG17 9XT

Telephone: 0771 780 3789
mike.barthorpe@siemens.com
www.newburychoral.org.uk

Octet

Octet, a group of young singers from Newbury, were formed in 1993 under the directorship of Matthew Smallwood. The group typically comprises 8 voices singing unaccompanied. They have a large repetoire of both sacred and secular music and have performed at the Leicester Early Music Festival and toured the Dordogne region of France.

Contact:
Janette Green
Secretary

Telephone: 01635 42239
octetchoir@aol.com

Pangbourne Choral Society

Pangbourne Choral Society was formed in 1973. Its 100 members meet once a week on Tuesday evenings in term time at Pangbourne College, Pangbourne, near Reading. The Society holds two or three concerts per year with guest soloists & usually accompanied by the Philomel Orchestra.

The Society welcomes keen singers, young and old, and the more easily embarrassed amongst you will be glad to hear that newcomers are not submitted to an audition. Its repertoire is mainly focused on the larger choral works, recent examples being Verdi's Requiem, Bach's St John Passion and the Brahms German Requiem, though the summer concert normally consists of a more mixed programme like the recent evening of Italian Opera arias & choruses.

If you are interested in joining the Society just go along to the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel on one of their Tuesday evening rehearsals (7:45pm) without obligation.

Concerts are held in the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, Pangbourne College, nr Reading, Berkshire

Contact:
Ken Whitehead
Chairman
c/o Music Department
Pangbourne College
Pangbourne
Berkshire
RG8 8LA

Telephone: 0118 984 1337
pchoralsoc@googlemail.com
www.pangbournechoral.org.uk

Sandham Singers

Performing a wide range of musical styles from renaissance motets to well-loved favourites, sacred music, spirituals, folk songs, and contemporary works, the Sandham Singers bring you some of the most beautiful and diverse choral music ever written.

We rehearse weekly in Newbury, and prepare for regular concerts as well as occasionally singing the weekend services in cathedrals. We also sing at weddings, and our musical director can help you select the music for the special event. Some of our members have had little chamber choral experience when they joined, but have grown into good singers who really enjoy rehearsing and performing regularly with this friendly group.

We are particularly keen to encourage those who want to develop their musical abilities, to make the most of this enjoyable learning opportunity for amateur singers. Newcomers no doubt would sense the welcome and friendliness of this group of singers.

Contact:
Jane, 07759 453894
www.sandhamsingers.org.uk

7-in-a-bar

The guys of 7-in-a-bar first got together in 2001. A number of alternatives of the name have been used over the years – 7iab – “Seven in a bar” – Seveniab etc. but we have now settled on “7-in-a-bar”.

All members of the group have a background in Barbershop style singing, in chorus and quartet (some were choristers before that) and one is a founder member of The British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS). We all love acappella singing and have developed a varied and, we like to think, entertaining repertoire which has wide audience appeal – but sorry, a bit light on Punk and Heavy Metal.

Contact:
Philip Wilson
"Swithland"
Station Road
Kintbury
RG17 9UP

Telephone: 01488 657314
www.7-in-a-bar.co.uk
wilsonofkintbury@aol.com