- 2026-27 SEASON: CELEBRATING OUR 75TH ANNIVERSAY IN STYLE!
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Date Posted: Fri, 17 Apr 2026
2026/27 - Join our innovative and exciting 75th Anniversary season
AUTUMN CONCERT - 07 November 2026
A BRITISH CHORAL CELEBRATION: Stanford Mass in G & Rutter Magnificat
These 2 magnificent works demonstrate the richness and variety of British choral music. Stanford’s Mass in G Major, one of the most substantial Latin choral works Britain produced in the 19th Century, received its world première recording in 2014, featuring the Choir of Exeter College Oxford directed by George de Voil, now the MD of Wokingham Choral Society. WCS will give what is believed to be only the second ever concert performance of this opulent Mass, from a new meticulously prepared edition by George de Voil and James Speakman. The vivid colours of this tuneful and characterful masterpiece will come to life through such diverse influences as Schubert, Dvorak, Bruckner and Beethoven. In contrast, John Rutter composed his extended setting of the Magnificat in 1990 with colourful Latin American influences, making it a joyful piece which weaves the 15th-century English poem 'Of a Rose, a lovely Rose' around the traditional liturgical text of the Magnificat. With symphony orchestra and professional soloists.
A CELEBRATORY CHRISTMAS CONCERT - 05 December 2026To include a previously commissioned work for WCS, ‘Wokingham Wassail’, a fun seasonal medley by Simon Wright.
SPRING CONCERT - 20 March 2027
'WAR & PEACE': Haydn Nelson Mass, Vivaldi & Bach
Haydn’s Nelson Mass is more formally known as the Missa in angustiis, meaning ‘Mass for troubled times’, an apposite work for current times. It has been described as ‘arguably Haydn's greatest single composition’. We will perform Haydn’s original ‘dark’ orchestra version with organ, strings, trumpets and timpani.
SUMMER CONCERT - 19 June 2027
'A DIAMOND CLELBRATION!'
Our summer concert will be a wonderful celebration of our 75 years as Wokingham Choral Society. The concert will feature a new commission for WCS by James Speakman. Based on the poem by Siegfried Sassoon Everyone Sang, with a final soaring phrase ‘the singing will never be done’, this piece will perfectly encapsulate the choral singer’s experience. 2027 is also the 60th anniversary of Sassoon’s death, which will make our commissioned work a double celebration.
Go to our EVENTS PAGE to learn more.
- Singing is surprisingly good for your health!
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Date Posted: Wed, 3 Dec 2025
If you sing, you know! If you don't, give it a go
Great BBC article! Why singing is surprisingly good for your health - BBC Future
Explore the benefits of singing with WCS at our open rehearsal on 15th January 2026. More info here.
- 2025-26 concert dates for your diary!
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Date Posted: Tue, 30 Sep 2025
Wonderful concerts for our 2025-26 Season
Baroque Masters: Bach and Handel
Handel: Ode for St Cecilia’s Day & Bach: Magnificat
Featuring five professional soloists and Baroque orchestra.
Saturday 15 November 2025
Family Christmas Carol Concert
Saturday 13 December 2025
Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man
A Come & Sing and Concert in aid of Shelter
Join us to sing Jenkin's moving ‘Mass for Peace’ and
perform with organ, trumpet and percussion.
Saturday 07 February 2026
Spring Concert: Sturm und Drang
German Romantic myths and legends.
Beethoven Mass in C,
Schumann, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Humperdinck.
Saturday 21 March 2026
Summer Concert: 'Saturday Night at the Movies'
Saturday 20th June 2026
Our concert venue is All Saints Church, Wokingham, RG40 1TN
For more information, see: https://www.wokingham-choral-society.org.uk/ConcertsandEvents
- COME & SING and CONCERT of KARL JENKIN'S 'THE ARMED MAN' in aid of SHELTER
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Date Posted: Wed, 27 Aug 2025
For more information, see: https://www.wokingham-choral-society.org.uk/ArmedMan070226
- EPIC PERFORMANCE OF ELGAR'S MASTERPIECE, THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS, AT GUILDFORD CATHEDRAL
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Date Posted: Mon, 3 Mar 2025
On 22nd March 2025, against the wonderful backdrop of Guildford Cathedral, Bracknell and Wokingham Choral Societies will perform The Dream of Gerontius, widely regarded as Elgar's finest choral work.
With 180 singers, professional soloists and 60-piece orchestra, underpinned by the Cathedral’s mighty organ, this concert will be a not-to-be-missed performance of epic proportions.
As Elgar himself described his setting of the poem by John Henry Newman, 'This is the best of me; for the rest, I ate, and drank, and slept, loved and hated, like another: my life was as the vapour and is not; but this I saw and knew; this, if anything of mine, is worth your memory.’Attachment: 
For more information, see: https://www.wokingham-choral-society.org.uk/dreamofgerontius
- Don't miss our next concert in collaboration with the Choir of St George’s School, Windsor Castle!
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Date Posted: Fri, 1 Nov 2024
Join us on 16 November 2024 for an exciting collaboration with the Choir of St George’s School, Windsor Castle.
We will perform a programme of wonderful music by the English Masters, Britten and Purcell.See our EVENT PAGE for more detail.
For more information, see: https://wcs.makingmusicplatform.com/dbpage.php?pg=view&dbase=events&id=185318
- Proud to support local mental health charity ARC
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Date Posted: Thu, 26 Sep 2024
We are proud to have supported local mental health charity, ARC, as our choir charity for the 2023/24 season.
At our rehearsal last Thursday, we presented a cheque to Paul Cassidy, ARC Head of Service, to help them continue the invaluable confidential counselling services which they provide free for schools and children, and at low-cost for adults.ARC is a member of the BACP (the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).
For more information, see: https://arcweb.org.uk/
- Choir Practice 10 Commandments!
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Date Posted: Mon, 26 Aug 2024
Seen on a vestry notice board in Saffron Walden !
- What a Fabulous Recital Tour to Norfolk!
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Date Posted: Fri, 23 Aug 2024
A wonderful weekend of fun, friendship and song! - 2 lunchtime recitals at St Mary's Saffron Walden and St Peter Mancroft, Norwich.
- Leading the Sung Eucharist at Wymondham Abbey.
- Relaxing with a glass of wine on an excellent Norfolk Broads boat trip.
- Mooching round the pretty towns of Saffron Walden and Wymondham, and the impressive city of Norwich.
- Tasty meals at great restaurants - the Queen's Head, Wymondham, was a real standout.
- And last but not least, enjoying fun times with choir friends.
- With huge thanks to George de Voil for his brilliant musical leadership and patience, and James Speakman for his multi-tasking on singing, accompaniment, and monumental organ solos.
- Also thanks to Jo at Sound Escapes for her meticulous research, planning and comms, and to Andy from Horseman Coaches for his good humour, considerate driving, and skill on tiny Norfolk roads!
- The fun to be had with concert set up!
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Date Posted: Thu, 20 Jun 2024
YouTube Video URL:
