Reading Summer PromsFriday 3 June – Tuesday 5 July 2011

Image by kind permission of Sally Castle

Supported by

40 appealing musical events - 13 venues33 days - over 50 groups and performerswww.readingarts.com follow us on Facebook & Twitter

‘Not Quite Reading Summer Proms’

Oklahoma!24-28 May 2011, 7.30pm all performancesHexagon, Queens Walk, Reading RG1 1QH www.sainsburysingers.org.uk

Set in the early 20th Century in Mid-West America, this timeless Musical uses the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys as a colourful background to the on-off romance of Laurey and Curly. Please join the Sainsbury Singers for a rip-roaring entertaining evening, surely You Cain’t say No!

Tickets from £6 available direct from The Sainsbury Singers’

Ticket Officer 0118 9882510 or at www.sainsburysingers.org.uk

or The Hexagon Box office 0118 960 6060 www.readingarts.com/thehexagon

subject to booking fee

Looking Forward to a Fantastic Summer!

Welcome

We are delighted to welcome you to the first Reading Summer Proms 2011. This exciting initiative is the product of an enormous amount of hard work and imagination displayed by our local choral, symphonic and musical groups around Reading. The result is a very exciting programme in the best proms tradition covering a full spectrum of music performed by local people of all backgrounds and ages to entertain and delight.

With 40 events across 13 venues involving 37 talented groups and individual performers over 33 days ‘Reading Summer Proms’ offers something for everyone.

There can be no finer illustration of what Reading can achieve and how it can present itself best, when our own people come together to present something so much bigger than the sum of our parts.

We applaud the literally thousands of musicians and choral performers who will perform in churches, outdoor venues, school halls and concert venues around town and urge everyone to enjoy some of the performances both free and paid for on offer.

Finally, we would like to pay tribute here to Martin Cooper, a much respected stalwart of local music and theatre who tragically died earlier this year

The Groups

Friday 3 June• OxfordPhilomusicawithEmmaJohnson,Reading

Concert Hall

Saturday 4 June• ReadingFestivalChoruswithReadingSymphonyOrchestraandJohanneskantorei,Düsseldorf.

• OrganRecital,AndrewCondliffe-Jones,ReadingMinster of St Mary the Virgin

Sunday 5 June• TrinityConcertBand,Bandstand,ForburyGardens,

Reading

Thursday 9 June• ANightattheOpera,Hexagon,Reading

Saturday 11 June• ThamesValleyChorus,aFeastofPopularMusic,

Reading Concert Hall

• OrganRecital,RichardPinel,ReadingMinsterofStMary the Virgin

Sunday 12 June• ReadingSpringGardensBand,Bandstand,ForburyGardens,Reading

• SteveReichDrumming–TheColinCurrieGroup,Reading Concert Hall

• FestalChoralEucharist,BoysChoir,ReadingMinsterof St Mary the Virgin

• BracknellChoralSociety,MusicforaSummer’sEvening,BearwoodCollege

Wednesday 15 June• PaulDerrett,LunchtimeOrganRecital,Concert

Hall, Reading

• UkuleleOrchestraofGreatBritain,HexagonReading

Saturday 18 June• ReadingSymphonyOrchestra‘NearlytheLastNight

of the Proms’ Concert Hall Reading

• ReadingGayChorus‘PicnicBasket’SouthStreetArtsCentre, Reading

• TamesisChamberChoir,MinistryofEntertainment,St Lawrence’s Church Reading

• DavidEverett(director)&SimonDinsdale(organ),‘Come&Sing’ReadingMinsterofStMarytheVirgin

Sunday 19 June• Beatroots,Bandstand,Forburygardens,Reading

• FestalChoralEvensong,BoysChoir,ReadingMinsterof St Mary the Virgin

Saturday 25 June• OrganistIanFarrington&NarratorWilliamMcVicar,

‘Animal Parade’ Reading Concert Hall

• ReadingBachChoir,‘Gloriousbaroque’GreatHallUniversityofReading

• ReadingHaydnChoir,‘SongsofCelebration’AllSaintsChurch,DownshireSquare,Reading

• TheTwyfordSingersSummerConcert,LoddonHallTwyford

• BenBloorOrganRecital,ReadingMinsterofStMarythe Virgin

Sunday 26 June• CholseySilverBand,Bandstand,ForburyGardens,

Reading

• AldworthPhilharmonicOrchestra,ReadingMinsterof St Mary the Virgin

• HenleySymphonyOrchestraSummerConcert,ShiplakeCollege(nrHenley)

• UniversityofReadingChorusSummerConcert,GreatHall,UniversityofReading

• CharvilGirlsChoir‘SummerSong’StMary’sChurchTwyford

Friday 1 July• WoodleyConcertBand‘Nowthat’sWhatICallMusic’

Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin

Saturday 2 July• ReadingPhoenixChoir&FriendsFestivalofChoirs

Reading Concert Hall

• ParenthesisChoir‘AspectsofLove’StMary’sChurchBurghfield

• BrandonSantiniOrganRecitalReadingMinsterofStMary the Virgin

Sunday 3 July• BerkshireMaestrospresents2galaconcertsby

young musicians, Hexagon Reading

• SalvationArmyReadingCentralBand,Bandstand,ForburyGardens,Reading

• JazzMass,ReadingMinsterofStMarytheVirgin

• FestalChoralEucharist&Evensong,BoysChoir,Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin

Monday 4 July• BerkshireMaestrosGalaConcert,HexagonReading

Tuesday 5 July• BerkshireMaestrosYoungMusicians‘wind&brass’GalaConcert

Diary

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Conductor Janet Lincé Verdi: Four Sacred Pieces; Bruckner: Te Deum

Reading’sprincipalorchestraandchorusjoinforces,togetherwithitstwin-townchoirJohanneskantoreifromDüsseldorfinthischoralandorchestralconcertfeaturingtwogreatchoralworksofthe19thcentury.The‘FourSacredPieces’byVerdicomeclosetohis‘Requiem’intermsofemotionalpowerwhilstBruckner’s‘TeDeum’isgrandioseinscaleandtriumphantinmood.Thisexcitingeveningpromisestobearealhighlight in Reading’s musical year.

Soloists: Julia Miller SopranoHeather Cairncross Alto

Tickets £15; £13 (Senior Citizens, YRP holder, children/students with NUS card) Box Office/enquiries Melanie Fone 0118 940 3016

MOZART Serenade No. 6 in D major, K. 239 ‘Serenata Notturna’ Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 ‘Jupiter’

ForitsReadingConcertHalldebut,OxfordPhilomusicaexplorestheremarkablegeniusofMozart. BeginningwiththeaffableSerenataNotturna,acharmingbutsophisticatedpieceofTafelmusik,thepro-grammemovesontotheeverpopularClarinetConcerto–aneffortlessfusionofpolishandpoignancy.ThiswillbeperformedbyEmmaJohnson,namedbyTheTimesas‘Britain’sfavouriteClarinettist’,oneofveryfew to have established an international career as a soloist. The concert concludes with that technical and emotionaltour-de-forceknownasthe‘Jupiter’Symphony.

Tickets £11 £13.50 £17.50 £19.50 £22 Box Office 0118 960 6060 www.readingarts.com (subject to booking fee)

Sponsored by Sir Robert and Lady Horton

Reading Festival Chorus with Reading Symphony Orchestra & Johanneskantorei, DüsseldorfSaturday 4 June, 7.30pmReading Concert Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QH www.readingfestivalchorus.org.uk

Oxford Philomusica with Emma JohnsonFriday 3 June, 7.30pmReading Concert Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QHwww.oxfordphil.com/

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Emma Johnson Clarinet Marios Papadopoulos Conductor Oxford Philomusica

Robin Green TenorMark Beesley Bass

Throughout the Proms…Organ Recitals on the historic 1862 Henry Willis organReading Minster of St. Mary the Virgin, St. Mary’s Butts, RG1 2HXwww.readingminster.org.uk

Given in aid of the ongoing appeal to restore the unique organ of Reading’s Civic Church

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Andrew Condliffe-Jones(St. Paul’s, Withington, Manchester)Saturday 4 June, 6:00pm - 7:00pm (followed by refreshments)

Andrewhashadavariedcareerinmusic,includingMusicalDirectoraboardP&O! HehasalsobeenMusicalDirectorfornumerousprofessionalshows,Copacabana,the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Little Shop of Horror and others.

Richard Pinel (St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle)Saturday 11 June, 6:00pm - 7:00pm (followed by refreshments)

Programme to include pieces by Hollins, Pierné, Schumann and Wagner.

Ben Bloor(St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle)Saturday 25 June, 6.00pm - 7.00pm (followed by refreshments)

BenisOrganScholaratStGeorge’sChapelinWindsor.HewasHeadChorister(andlaterOrganScholar)atDerbyCathedralandhasbeenplayingtheorgansincehewas11.ThisrecitalwillincludeRheinberger’sSonataNo.8,Bach’sPreludeandFugueinGmajorandRawsthorne’sHornpipeHumoreske

Brandon Santini (USA)Saturday 2 July, 6:00pm - 7:30pm (interval refreshments)

BrandonhailsfromWeymouth,Massachusetts.Recentlyheearnedthirdprizeinthe2010AlbertSchweitzerOrganCompetitionandperformedinarecitalaspartofBoston’seventsforFirstNight2011.

©TheDean&Canonsof Windsor

©TheDean&Canonsof Windsor

Tickets £8 or £28 for a Recital Season Ticket (to include four recitals)

E-mail music@readingminster.org.uk, tel. 0118 957 1057 or available on the door

Forbury Band Concert Season 2011Every Sunday throughout Reading Summer Proms, 3.00pm – 4.30pmForbury Gardens Bandstand, Reading Town Centre, RG1 3HW

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Make most of a sunny summer’s afternoon and relax and enjoy some wonderful live music in the beautiful surroundings of the ForburyGardens.

Sunday 5 June Trinity Concert BandSunday 12 June Reading Spring gardens BandSunday 19 June BeatrootsSunday 26 June Cholsey Silver BandSunday 3 July Salvation Army Central Reading Band

FREE admissionFurther information 0118 937 2771www.facebook.com/eventsinreading www.reading.gov.uk

(season continues into July, August & September, details inside cover)

CO-OPERA Co. PresentA Night At The OperaThursday 9 June, 7.30pmHexagon Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7UA

Tickets £15 (subject to a booking fee) concessions & groups £2 off Box Office 0118 960 6060 www.readingarts.com

A celebration of youthful love and passion featuring some of the most cherished music from the world of opera. You will hear MimiandRodolfofromPuccini’sLaBohemeastheymeetandfallinlove,ViolettaandAlfredo,inVerdi’sBrindisifromLaTraviata,celebratingtheirnewfoundpassion,Puccini’sNessumDorma,sung by Calif who has fallen in love at first sight with Turandot - and so much more.

The Colin Currie GroupSteve Reich: DrummingSunday 12 June 7.30pmReading Concert Hall, Blagrave St, Reading RG1 1QH www.readingarts.com

A Feast of Popular MusicSaturday 11 June, 7.30pmReading Concert Hall, Blagrave St, Reading, RG1 1QHwww.tvchorus.co.uk

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TheColinCurrieGroupwasformedtoperformSteveReich’siconic‘Drumming’aworkwhichhasbuiltahugefollowingwith audiences around the world. The piece employs Reich’s trademarktechniqueofphasing,whereanumberofplayersproduce a single repeated pattern in steady but not identical tempo. Colin Currie leads this dynamic group of virtuoso young percussionists combined with Synergy Vocals. The group first performedattheBBCPromsandhaverecentlygivensell-outperformancesinLondon,BirminghamandPerth.Theyaretouring widely in 2011.

Pre Concert Talk 6.15 - 7.00pm - The Town Hall (free)

Internationalgoldmedalwinners,TheThamesValleyChorusareinconcertwithAscotBrassandGospelsingers.TheTVCsingin4partharmonyincludingBarbershopsongs.Theirlastconcerthere was a 600 seater sell out and their Christmas concert sold outin3weeks.AscotBrassisthechoiceofRoyalAscotandby invitation selects the finest of performers from more than adozenothergreatbands.Theirsoundisexcitingandveryprofessional. This evening of variety will include popular gospel singers for extra variety. You are sure to leave the evening with a big smile.

Tickets £12. Box Office 0118 960 6060 http://www.readingarts.com/concerthall/ or on door (subject to booking fee)

Tickets: £22.50, £20, £18, £14, £11.50. Concessions tel Box Office for details. Groups 10+: £2 off. Box Office 0118 960 6060 (Subject to booking fee)

Reading MinsterChoir (boys’ voices)From 12 June… Festal Choral Eucharist & Evensong Reading Minster of St. Mary the Virgin, St. Mary’s Butts, RG1 2HX www.readingminster.org.uk

Bracknell Choral SocietyMusic for a Summer’s EveningSunday 12th June, 7.30pmBearwood College Theatre, Winnersh, Wokingham RG41 5BGwww.bracknellchoral.org.uk

ThefinalconcertofBracknellChoralSociety’s50thAnniversaryYear, this summer performance from the Society and two soloists features a commissioned work from our accompanist, NickAustin:‘ABunchofFlowers’.

Tickets £20. Price includes strawberries & cream and sparkling rosé wineBox Office & enquiries 01344 772 962

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Sunday 12 June, 11:15am - 12:15pm (Eucharist)

Sunday 19 June, 4:15pm - 5:00pm (Evensong)

Sunday 3 July, 11:15am - 12:15pm (Eucharist)

Sunday 3 July, 4:15pm - 5:00pm (Evensong)BoysandmenofthechoirsofReadingMinster&AllSaintsMarlow

For over a millennium, this site has been a calm and peaceful place of prayer, worship and hospitality within the heart of Reading. Music plays an important part in the life of the Minster and the launch of the Choral Foundation, with the resurrectionoftheBoys’Choir,isanexampleofhowweareplanning for the future.

Admission free, retiring collection

Thatcham Rotary Club present

Ukulele Orchestra of Great BritainWednesday 15 June, 8.00pmHexagon, Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7UA

TheUkuleleOrchestraofGreatBritainhavesingle-handedlyturned the world on to the ukulele and are now in Reading giving a charity performance on behalf of Thatcham Rotary Club.

TheUkesappearonstagewithoneukuleleeach,nogimmicks,notricks, no vocal enhancers, then proceed to tear the house down.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll never think about music in the same way again.

Tickets £22.50 (subject to booking fee)

Box Office 0118 960 6060 www.readingarts.com

Paul Derrett Lunchtime Organ Recital & CD launchWednesday 15th June, 1.00pm – 1.50pmConcert Hall, Blagrave St, Reading, RG1 1QH

RenownedperformerPaulDerrettreturnstotheTownHalltogive another entertaining lunchtime organ recital on the historic “Father Willis” organ in the Concert Hall. The programme includes popularmusicbyMendelssohn,Wesley,andGuilmant,whichwillshow off the full range of the instrument. The recital also marks theofficiallaunchofanewBenchmarksCDrecordingofsixReadingorgans,allplayedbyPaulDerrett.TherecordingfeaturestheConcertHallorgan,andPaulwillbesigningcopiesoftheCDaftertheperformance.ThiseventissupportedbytheBerkshireOrganists’Association.

Tickets £4 (subject to a booking fee) Box Office 0118 960 6060 www.readingarts.com

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Reading Symphony Orchestra ‘Nearly’ the Last Night of the PromsSaturday 18 June, 7.30pm Concert Hall, Blagrave St, Reading RG1 1QH www.rso.org.uk

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Reading Gay Chorus’ ‘Picnic Basket’Saturday 18th, 7.30pm & Sunday 19th June, 2.00pm South Street Arts Centre, South Street, Reading, RG1 4QU www.rgc.gb.com

RSOfinishtheirseasoninstylewithaLastNightofthePromsconcert. The programme ranges from Vaughan-Williams’ The LarkAscendingtoasliceofAmericainGershwin’sSummertime.The show will finish in true Last Night of the Proms fashion with nationaltreasuresRuleBritannia,JerusalemandLandofHopeandGlory.

RSOwelcometwosoloistsforthisconcert.AlexandraWoodisone of the most dynamic, versatile violinists of her generation. SopranoAmyCatthasperformedatsomeofthegreatestOperavenuesinboththeUKandUS,includingCarnegieHallandtheRoyalOperaHouse.

Tickets £14 and £12, Under 16s £50118 9860707 or tickets@rso.org.uk

OpentheReadingGayChorus‘picnicbasket’foravariedandentertainingshowcaseofmusicwithournewMusicalDirector,MattJelf.WitharepertoirethathasincludedHandel,Verdi,Beethoven,Vivaldi,Haydn,Strauss,Offenbach,RodgersandHammerstein,AndrewLloyd-Webber,BonJovi,LennonandMcCartney,Queen,Abba,Coldplay,BillyJoel,LeonardCohen, Cole Porter, stage musicals and movies there’s sure to be something for everyone!

Tickets £12. Concessions £10. Box Office 07881 712961

Alexandra WoodAmy Catt

Come and SingDavid Everett (director) with Simon Dinsdale (organ)Saturday 18 June, 1.45pm Registration, 2.15pm Workshop, 6.00pm Concert performanceReading Minster of St. Mary the Virgin, St. Mary’s Butts, RG1 2HX www.readingminster.org.uk

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Tamesis Chamber Choir Ministry of EntertainmentSaturday June 18th, 7.30pmSt Laurence’s Church, Reading RG1 1DA (next to the Town Hall)

The third in our ‘Coalition’ Season for 2010-2011, this concert will explore the coalition between lyricist and composer, in the world of the Musicals. Tamesis Chamber Choir is a high-standard,young(ish!)choirofabout25,andwewillbesingingsongs and medleys from well-known pairings such as Rodgers &Hammerstein,Schönberg&Boublil,GeorgeandIraGershwin,Lloyd-Webber&TimRiceandothers.Thiswillbealight-hearted,fun summer’s evening out. Come and join us!

Tickets £10. Concessions (OAPs, students) £7Box Office Charlie Hodgkinson 0118 934 3200 or www.tamesischamberchoir.co.uk

ExperiencedsingersareinvitedtotakepartinthisuniqueopportunitytoperformVivaldi’sGloriaandVaughanWilliams’FiveMysticalSongsinthishistoricandbeautifulchurch.DavidEverettisanexperiencedsinger and choral director who has worked with many choirs across theUKandabroad.

Tickets £15 (to include music hire and tea) For more information and a registration form, contact Peter West by email: music@readingminster.org.uk or telephone 0118 957 1057

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Animal ParadeSaturday 25th June, 11.30am - 12.15pmConcert Hall, Blagrave St, Reading, RG1 1QH

Glorious baroqueSaturday 25 June, 7.30pmGreat Hall, University of Reading, London Road, Reading RG1 5AQwww.readingbachchoir.org.uk

Perfect for all the family. FREE event – just turn up!Animal Parade is a wild and wacky depiction of ten familiar animals, from the tallest to the fastest, the biggest to the nastiest. Hear the roar of the cheetah, the miaow of the alley cat and feel the massive weight of the blue whale. This affectionate caricature of wildlife explores the unusual characteristics of these creatures inathrillingandentertainingassortmentoforganeffects.IainFarrington’s music is introduced by a series of witty verses by EstherEidinowandaslideshowofcartoonimages.Comealongandfindoutwhatamazingsoundsthehuge150-year-oldorganin

the Concert Hall can make!

Organist, Iain Farrington Narrator, William McVicker

This event is generously supported by the Berkshire Organists’ Association and the Incorporated Association of Organists.

ReadingBachChoirpresentsaprogrammeofwonderfulbaroquechoralmusicfeaturingBach’sdramaticandjubilantMagnificat.Incompletecontrasttothis,hismotetJesumeineFreudehasasimple austerity and aching inevitability. The lesser known but amazinglybeautifulLottiMissaSapientiaeisnolessenthralling.The choir is accompanied by hand-picked period instrument players and the concert features five accomplished and in-demand young singers.

Reading Bach Choir

Conductor: Matthew HamiltonBach Magnificat Bach Jesu meine Freude Lotti Missa SapientiaeReading Bach Baroque Orchestra

£20, concessions £18, YRP £19, students with NUS card £8, under 16s £5 Box Office/enquiries 0118 9470104

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Songs of CelebrationSaturday 25th June, 7.30pmAll Saints’ Church, Downshire Square, Reading. RG1 6NNwww.haydnchoir.org.uk

Twyford Singers Summer ConcertSaturday 25 June, 7.30pmLoddon Hall, Loddon Hall Road, Twyford RG10 9JAwww.twyford-singers.org.uk

The Reading Haydn Choir returns for its summer concert with a selectionofclassicalfavouritesincludingJohnRutter’sBirthdayMadrigals, and Handel’s Coronation Anthems.

Tickets£13,concessions£10,Under16s£5

Box Office tickets@haydnchoir.org.uk and on the door

The Twyford Singers will present a varied selection of well known music from TV and Film productions.

Tickets £7. Box Office 0118 93424060118 9345985 or on the door

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Aldworth Philharmonic OrchestraSunday 26 June, 3.00pmReading Minster of St Mary the Virgin, St Mary’s Butts, RG1 2HXwww.aldworthphilharmonic.org.uk

Henley Symphony OrchestraSummer Concert and PicnicsSunday 26 June, 7.30pmShiplake College (Nr Henley on Thames)www.henleysymphonyorchestra.co.uk

MembersoftheAldworthPhilharmonicOrchestra,ChoirandChamber Music Club will present a fascinating musical journey aroundtheBritishIslesthroughthemediumofclassicalmusicinspired by folk song. From the gentle beauty of Vaughan Williams totheeccentricjollityofPercyGrainger,arangeoftraditionaland modern arrangements for both vocal and instrumental

forces will be accompanied by an exploration of their origins.

Tickets £12, £8 concessions. Box Office 07532 217325 or boxoffice@aldworthphilharmonic.org.uk

AwonderfulwaytocelebrateaJuneevening.CometoTheHenleySymphonyOrchestraAnnualSummerConcertheldinamagnificentmarqueeinthegroundsofShiplakeCollege.Bringapicnictoenjoybeforehand. Sit back, relax and hear beautiful classical music.

Programme to include favourite works by Bernstein, Strauss, Sibelius, Sullivan and Elgar and the Tuba Concerto by Vaughan Williams

Tickets £12 adults, £6 U16 & students. Box Office 01628 526504

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Music@ReadingSummer Concert 2011Sunday 26 June, 7.30pmUniversity of Reading, Great Hall, London Road Campus, Reading RG1 5AQ

Woodley Concert Band‘Now That’s What I Call Music!’Friday 1 July, 7.45pm (interval refreshments) Reading Minster of St. Mary the Virgin, St. Mary’s Butts, RG1 2HX www.woodleyconcertband.org.uk

Charvil Girls Choir, Tapestry & the Young Voices of Colorado (USA) ‘Summer Song’Friday 1 July, 7.00pmSt Mary’s Church, Station Road, Twyfordwww.charvilgirlschoir.co.uk

UniversityofReadingChorus Rossini’s large, vivacious Petite Messe Solenelle StuartDunlop–Conductor

Tickets £10, concessions £6 (available on door – booking advisable)

Box Office Alex Richardson 0118 378 5256, or a.t.richardson@reading.ac.uk

WoodleyConcertBandisdelightedtopresentaneveningofinspiring,excitingandmagnificentmusic!FromJamesCurnow’s majestic Fanfare and Flourishes to the emotional beautyoftheAdagiofromRodrigo’sConciertodeAranjuez(asfeaturedinthehitfilmBrassedOff),stoppingoffattheever-popular musical Les Misérables on the way, there really is something for everyone in this concert. With all these and much more, we know we’ll have your feet tapping in no time and guarantee to leave you humming tunes all the way home!

Giveninaidoftheongoingappealtorestoretheuniqueorgan of Reading’s Civic Church.

Tickets £8 in advance and £9 on the door. Box Office 0870 321 2186 or email info@woodleyconcertband.org.uk

Tickets £5. Box Office 0118 934 0589 & on the door

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Festival of ChoirsSaturday 2 July, 7.30pmConcert Hall, Blagrave St, Reading, RG1 1QHwww.readingphoenix.org.uk

Parenthesis‘Aspects of Love’Saturday 2nd July, 6:30pmSt Mary’s Church, Burghfield, Nr Reading www.parenthesis.org.uk

OnceagaintheReadingPhoenixChoirpresentsanexcitingand varied evening of choral entertainment. The Reading area is fortunate in having many and diverse choirs. The Festival of Choirs celebrates the different genres of choral music that are alive in Reading with an evening of music given by five different choirs, including a children’s choir and, of course, the Reading PhoenixChoir.ThelastFestivalofChoirsheldin2009washugelypopular and this year promises to be the same. You are advised to book early to ensure you do not miss this highlight of the Reading Summer Proms.

Tickets £15. Box Office 0118 321 6728; www.phoenix.concertseats.org.uk; email: tickets@readingphoenix.org.uk

Parenthesis, a local choir now in its 20th year is holding a concert to celebrate “Love through the Ages” and will include madrigals, opera, show and modern songs and perhaps a touch of humour, as well as some poetry. We will have a bring and share supper and if the weather is fine we will eat outside.

The choir is directed by Valerie Hoppe MBE, accompanied by Martin Jones

Tickets £5 (available on the door)

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Jazz MassSunday 3 July, 7.00pmReading Minster of St. Mary the Virgin, St. Mary’s Butts, RG1 2HX

Berkshire MaestrosHexagon, Queens Walk, Reading, RG1 1QH www.berkshiremaestros.org.uk

ComeandcelebratetheEucharistwithalivejazzbandprovidingthemusic.ThemusicfortheserviceincludesaJazzMasscomposedbyJamesCaveandfamiliarhymnssungwithaddedswing. To make the service more intimate and relaxed, the congregation will be seated round small candlelit tables. This innovativeapproachtotheEucharisthasbeenusedinchurches,chapelsandjazzclubsthroughoutthecountry.Refreshmentswillbe available.

Admission free, retiring collection

Reading Music Centre presents a series of gala concerts featuring young musicians, aged 4 to 18, performing in a variety of ensembles. The concerts include invited guests from Reading primary schools who have been learning this year through BerkshireMaestros-ledwholeclassinstrumentalprojects.

Sunday 3 July, 4.00pm and 7.00pmTwoconcertswillincludechoirs,jazzbands,brassbands,woodwindgroupsandstringorchestras.BerkshireMaestros’CountyYouthOrchestrawillperforminthe7pmconcert.

Monday 4 July, 7.00pmThe evening focuses on choirs and string orchestras with additional performances from the Reading Music Centre guitar ensembles.

Tuesday 5 July, 7.00pmThe evening focuses on wind and brass bands with performances from junior and senior musicians.

Box Office – 0118 960 6060 subject to booking fee

Enquiries to Reading Music Centre – 0118 901 2366

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South Chiltern Choral Society Summer Serenade (and ‘Strums’)

Saturday 9 July 5.00pm & 8.00pmHighdown School Hall, Highdown School, Emmer Green, Reading RG4 8LR www.southchilternchoralsociety.org.uk

The Witt StudioEnd of Term Showcase

Friday 22 July 7.30pmWesley Methodist Church, Queen’s Road, Reading, RG1 4BWwww.witt.uk.com

Tickets £8.50 £6 unwaged. Box Office 0118 9508 369 or 07867 503642

Uptodateprogrammecontentswww.witt.uk.com

This summer we are proud to present The Witt Studio Chorus–85voicesinharmony.TheWittStudioSingers–VirtuosoVocalGroupaccompaniedbymembersofReadingSymphonyOrchestrawithspecialguestsandinstrumentalists. Programme to include classical and rockmusicalongwithjazz,music-theatreandopera.Therereallyissomethingforeveryone!Thesetopqualityshowcasesarerapidlygainingcultstatus.Bookearlytoavoid disappointment.

A sumptuous collection of great standards from the thirties and forties interleaved with musicfromthedistinguished“TetraGuitarQuartet”

Tickets £12.00 U18 £6.00. Box Office 0118 940 1099(Available on door – booking advised)

Dates for your Diary!

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Friday 3 June – Tuesday 5 July 2011

NEW TO CLASSICAL CONCERTS? DOWNLOAD YOUR GUIDE TO CLASSICAL CONCERTS NOW AT WWW.READINGARTS.COM

CLASSICAL MUSIC ALIVEIN READINGInternational PerformanceSeason 2011/12

2011 10 October Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Tasmin Little13 October Mitsuko Uchida, Piano29 October London Conchord Ensemble20 November The Hallé7 December The Sixteen

201215 January Jonathan Biss, Piano8 February London Symphony Orchestra11 February Hewitt, Gauvin & Oliva8 March European Union Chamber Orchestra18 March Meta4 String Quartet28 March Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse14 April Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Laurence Davies5 May Jerusalem Quartet & Alexander Melnikov, Piano6 June The King’s Singers

1 June Diamond Celebration Gala - RPO/Nigel Kennedy

ORGAN RECITALS AT THE CONCERT HALL

Celebrity Recitals10 November Tim Byram-Wigfield26 April Jane Parker-Smith

Lunchtime Recitals 21 September Svyati Duo23 November Timothy Wakerell25 January Douglas Tang14 March Daniel Cook16 May Jill York4 July A student from Eton College

www.readingarts.comBox Office 0118 960 6060

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