Arts organisations, clubs and associations
Newbury & District
Arts Association
Choirs and Choral Societies
Choirs and Choral Societies in West Berkshire and North Hampshire.
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
01488 657314
wilsonofkintbury@aol.com
www.7-in-a-bar.co.uk
Basingstoke Choral Society 
Basingstoke Choral Society, under its present organisation, came into being in May 1948, having taken over the activities of the Basingstoke Musical Society, dissolved earlier that year. Interestingly, we have obtained a copy of a programme for a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah, dated April 27th. 1899. Not only does this show that Basingstoke Choral Society is older than we had recently thought, but it also states that this was the ‘Tenth Season’, making its birth 1889. It was also, evidently, a large choir, naming 64 ladies and 35 gentlemen in the programme.
Our aim is to bring audiences the highest quality musical events, performing with some of the country’s leading professionals. In the past the choir has performed with the London Mozart Players, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and has sung with soloists including Bonaventura Bottone and Ekaterina Gubanova. The choir continues to have a wide repertoire, selecting traditional choral works by composers such as Mozart, Beethoven and Elgar interspersed with more modern pieces by composers such as Bernstein and Karl Jenkins.
Contact:
Membership Secretary
The Vyne Community School
Vyne Road
Basingstoke
RG21 5PB
bcschoir@gmail.com
www.basingstoke-choral.org.uk
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
RG14 2HP
01635 820379
ian.haslam@ntlworld.com
www.cantemus-newbury.org.uk
Cecilia Consort 
The Cecilia Consort was formed by Janet Coxwell in 1990 from among the members of an ad hoc choir that was put together to sing the Mozart Requiem in the Newbury and District Arts Festival in the Summer of 1989.
Meeting for only limited rehearsals preceding each of our two or three concerts each year, we sing a repertoire of secular and sacred music from across a broad historical spectrum.
Although we are a chamber choir, we perform both chamber works – often a capella or with organ accompaniment alone – and larger works accompanied by an orchestra.
We continually learn new works and almost every concert contains music we have not performed before, be it a collection of anthems or an entire mass.
Contact:
Lucy Makin
Chairman
07775 743445
ceciliatickets@gmail.com
www.ceciliaconsort.org.uk
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:
Sarah Cope
Musical Director
Speen Village Hall
Speen Lane
Newbury
Berkshire
RG14 1RJ
01635 32504
cromwell.singers@googlemail.com
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
Incantata 
We are open to female singers and based at St Mary's Church Hall, Greenham in Newbury, West Berkshire.Formed in 2009 and led by our musical director, Nic Cope, we sing a varied repertoire which includes both classical and contemporary music. We sing both for fun and performance and also for the benefit of the wider community.
We enjoy performing at local events (enquiries to the Administrator) and raising money for local charities.
InCantata is a member of Making Music, the UK's leading organisation for voluntary music and is supported by the Greenham Common Trust.
One of our members can tell you what she loves about being part of InCantata....
"I joined InCantata having not sung with a choir for many years. I received a warm welcome from the group and thoroughly enjoyed the open morning where I was able to let rip on a few popular songs as well as drink coffee and eat buns!! I instantly loved it! Since I joined we've sung anything from Beatles to Britten. If you love singing, I would recommend InCantata to you-do join us."
Open mornings held during the first month of each term but you are welcome to come and try us at any time. Please see our website for further details or contact our choir administrator.
Contact:
Sandra Larkins
Administrator
St Mary's Church Hall
New Road
Greenham
Berkshire
RG19 8RZ
sandra.larkins@btinternet.com
www.incantata.co.uk
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 lot of 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 a mutual trial period.
Rehearsals take place each Tuesday at St Nicolas Junior School, Link Road, Newbury RG14 7LU 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:
Margaret Baker
Publicity Officer
publicity@newburychamberchoir.co.uk
www.newburychamberchoir.co.uk
Newbury Choral Society 
We are a friendly choir with over 100 members of all ages, from the young to the not so young. We perform a wide and varied repertoire, from familiar choral works by composers such as Bach and Mozart, to less frequently performed pieces by more recent composers such as Tippett, Tavener and Rachmaninov.
As an unauditioned and inclusive choir, we expect members to be able to read music (but not necessarily to sight read) and, of course, to be able to sing in tune. Don't worry if you are returning to singing after a long break. In a large choir like ours you have time to fit in and learn, because there will be plenty of people around you singing the right notes!
Rehearsals are every Monday evening during term time, from 7:20pm to 9:30pm at the Methodist Church Hall, Newbury.
Why not come along and see what you think? You will be made very welcome.
Contact:
Nat Smith
Secretary
secretary@newburychoral.org.uk
www.newburychoral.org.uk
Opus2
Opus2 is a smallSATB chamber choir that sings a wide range of secular and non-secular, classical and contemporary music. The choir members share their enjoyment of singing and performing and aim to consistently achieve a high standard. Opus 2 is proud to support the local community and performs two to three concerts per year at venues in West Berkshire and is also available for musical interludes at private functions; audience participation often encouraged!
Rehearsals are held at St. Mary's Church, Kintbury on Wednesday evenings, from 7.30 pm to 9:30 pm, under the leadership of Musical Director, Chris Lambert.
Opus 2 regularly welcomes new members of all singing parts; Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass.
More information about the choir can be requested by emailing info@opus2.org.uk.
Opus 2 is a Charity registered in England, No. 1141323
Contact:
Caroline O'Gorman
Opus2 secretary
Pangbourne Choral Society 
Pangbourne Choral Society was formed in 1973. Its 100 members meet once a week on Tuesday evenings usually at The Falkland Islands Chapel in Pangbourne College, Pangbourne, near Reading. The Society holds two or three concerts per year with guest soloists & accompanied by an orchestra, organist and/or pianist.
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 – check with us that we are meeting and you can come to one or two of our Tuesday evening rehearsals (7:45pm) without obligation.
Concerts are usually held in the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel.
Contact:
info@pangbournechoral.org.uk
www.pangbournechoral.org.uk
Sing The World 
We sing a capella harmony songs from a wealth of musical cultures from around the world, including gospel, jazz, rock, folk, African and Eastern European. All songs are taught by ear, no auditions required. Fortnightly Monday evening sessions led by Natural Voice Practitioners Becca Flintham and Tessa Hall at Speen Parish Hall, Speen Lane, Newbury. Bi-monthly Saturday singing workshops led by guest singing teachers, at a variety of local venues.
Contact:
Tessa Hall
Group leader
Speen Village Hall
Speen Lane
Newbury
Berkshire
RG14 1RJ
singingtheworld@gmail.com
www.letssingtheworld.org.uk
The Hurst Singers
The Hurst Singers was formed in 1975 and is a mixed-voice four-part choir. Our aim is to have fun singing whilst enjoying the challenge of making good harmonies together. We embrace a varied repertoire of part songs from pop to folk, religious to jazz. We are based in the village of Mortimer, near Reading, and we meet in the charming St. John's Hall on Thursday evenings.
New members with any kind of singing experience are welcome. You don't have to be able to read music, but it may help. No audition is needed, just plenty of enthusiasm, commitment and a passion for singing.
We aim for a couple of concerts per year, plus attending some special events, e.g. at Christmas.
New members welcome. For enquiries about the Hurst Singers, please contact Mari Fleming on 01189 332805; mariatseasons@aol.com Details and events: http://thehurstsingers.org Email general enquiries: Thehurstsingers@gmail.com
Contact:
Mari Fleming
07882 404337
Thehurstsingers@gmail.com
thehurstsingers.org
Three Rivers Community Choir 
Three Rivers Community Choir is a dynamic and friendly Community Choir in Newbury. We meet on Thursdays at Winchcombe School during term time.
All are welcome, there are no auditions. We sing a wide range of music. No experience is necessary and no need to read music.
Fees are £4.00 (Apr 24) per session, payable termly in advance. Enjoy a free taster session on your first night.
Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings during term time from 7:30pm to 9:20pm at:- Winchcombe School, Maple Crescent, Newbury RG14 1LN
For more information, visit our website, www.threeriverscommunitychoir.org.uk or find us on Facebook or Instagram. Or contact:Caroline Snowdon csnowdon2@gmail.com
Contact:
Caroline Snowdon
Winchcombe School
Maple Crescent
Newbury
RG14 1LN
is supported by: