Let’s Sing 2023

Would you love the opportunity to perform on The Hexagon stage?

The Mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, is running a competition to showcase local amateur choirs – with the final taking place at The Hexagon on Friday 24th March, starting at 6.30pm.

This year the contest will be divided into the three categories of Junior Choirs (under 12s), Youth Choirs (under 18s) and Community Choirs.

Entries from the greater Reading area can be made by completing the form provided with a link to a video of the choir performing a song, either on YouTube or Facebook.

Alternatively, a CD or MP3 of a performance can be sent to The Mayor’s Parlour, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading RG1 2LU.

A panel of judges, including Reading Mayor, Cllr Rachel Eden, will select entrants from each category to take part in the final in front of an audience at The Hexagon on Friday 24th March 2023.

Entry Criteria

  • The choir must consist of 8 persons or above (and up to approximately 20).
  • The choir must meet and rehearse on a regular basis.
  • For the Junior category, the majority of singers must be age 12 and under.
  • For the Youth category, the majority of singers must by age 18 and under. No singers older than 18 on the 31st December 2023 can participate in either of these categories.
  • Although the choir may be paid collectively for musical engagements, no individual members of the choir shall be paid on a regular basis for their musical services or be professional singers in their own right.
  • Each choir’s performance in the competition can be accompanied or a cappella. A piano is supplied for the final but any other instruments and/or portable power supply must be provided by the choir.
  • Let’s Sing Reading will be open to all choirs and singing groups from any musical background in the Greater Reading area.

The Competition Process

Initial entry to the Competition will entail submission of a CD or online recording of a song of your choice. One adult (e.g. music teacher) must be nominated as the choir’s main contact. The entry CD/recording must be clearly marked with the name and telephone number of this contact. Please also mark on the CD the duration of each track. The entry CD must contain only the performances being submitted for this competition and performed by the choir intending to go forward into the later stages of the competition.

A small panel of appointed judges will listen carefully to the quality and style of the singing as demonstrated by the performances on CD and will select 6 choirs from each category to take forward to the finals.

Each choir entering the competition will be required to rehearse and perform songs from their repertoire (enough to fill their timed performance slot), the style of which can be any that suits their abilities and tastes – maybe songs from musicals, songs from the charts or world music etc.

There will be a winner from each category and an overall winner on the night that will be presented with a special Let’s Sing trophy by the Mayor.

The deadline for all entries is Monday 27 February 2023.