Finalists Revealed for Let’s Sing 2018

Let's Sing Choir

THIRTEEN local choirs have been selected for the grand final of the Mayor of Reading’s choir competition on 1st March.

Let’s Sing 2018 is a showcase for local amateur choirs, with the final taking place at the Hexagon theatre on Thursday 1st March at 6.30pm. Tickets for the Let’s Sing 2018 final are available from the Reading Arts Box Office on (0118) 960 6060 or by visiting www.readingarts.com Robert Kenny from Breeze FM will be compere for the evening with entertainment from local dance group Reading Theatretrain. A top trio of music maestros will be judging the choirs, including Andrew Taylor, Music Director of the Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra; Matthew Foster, musician and teacher of music technology at Newbury College and Cllr Marian Livingston, who founded Let’s Sing when she was mayor in 2014. Choirs across Greater Reading were invited to enter the annual singing competition and the judges selected the 13 finalists for the big night. The contest is divided into the three categories of Junior Choirs (under 12s), Youth Choirs (under 18s) and Community Choirs. There will be a winner from each category and an overall winner on the night presented with a special Let’s Sing trophy by the Mayor.

Cllr Rose Williams, Mayor of Reading, said:

“Let’s Sing is one of the absolute highlights of the Mayor’s events calendar. I am really looking forward to watching the finalists perform on stage at The Hexagon in March. “The talented finalists will have the thrill of performing on a big stage and the audience will enjoy a great evening of entertainment. On top of that my chosen charities, Berkshire Phab, City of Sanctuary and Readipop, will benefit from the proceeds of the evening. “I think it’s good that so many people, young and not so young, are getting together to form choirs. Many of these choirs are closely involved in their local communities, putting on performances to raise money for charity and good causes. “I’m taking a backseat this year when it comes to judging because two of the choirs are linked to one of the charities I have been supporting during my year of office. It means I can just sit back, like you all, and enjoy the music!” Tickets for the final are priced at £9.50, concessions £4.50 and Family £20, including booking fee. All proceeds from the show will go to the Mayor of Reading’s Charity Fund, which this year is supporting Berkshire Phab, City of Sanctuary and Readipop.

The choirs battling it out for the awards are:

Community Choirs

Readiophonics Time to Sing Arborfield Military Wives Choir The Barberettes Moving On Reading Borough Choir The SOTA Adult Rock Choir (SARC) Thames Valley Chorus

Youth Choirs (under 18s) and Junior Choirs (under 12s)

John Madejski Academy Performing Arts choir The Bulmershe Ensemble Crosfields Chamber Choir Year 6 pupils St Martin’s Primary School Glee Club St Anne’s School Choir For more information about Let’s Sing, visit www.reading.gov.uk/letssing , email mayor@reading.gov.uk or call (0118) 937 2771.

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