Choral singing finds harmony in Wantage

Tom Kingston invites you to join Wantage Choral Society — a warm, welcoming choir offering joyful music-making, community spirit and concerts year-round. 

Singing is so enjoyable, and as Dr Michael Mosely told us, it is also good for mental and physical health.

I have always sung in choirs, and as a boy treble, performed Britten’s War Requiem in Coventry Cathedral and elsewhere, and particularly enjoyed singing at the Albert Hall performance and in the subsequent recording of Mahler’s 8th Symphony with the LSO, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

As a student, I sang in the College Chapel choir, and later – having moved into a village in Hertfordshire – I joined the local Choral Society and sang happily with them for many years.

We moved from there to Wantage in 2020, between Covid lockdowns, so we had to wait a while before we could meet people at all.

The first relief was the opening of the Tennis Club, but I was glad later when it was also possible to gather inside, and I could join the Wantage Choral Society, a friendly group of about 60 men and women. This was a great way of getting to know more local people, as well as having fun singing.

We have recruited a talented Director of Music, Hannah Zaki, and accompanist, Gabriele Damiani, to lead us, and we sing an interesting variety of music, with three concerts a year.

The summer concert is usually lighter music, with nibbles and a drink in Letcombe Regis Village Hall, while the other two concerts are a variety of works, classical and modern, with instrumental accompaniment and are performed in Wantage Parish Church.

As an example, last November we sang Finzi In Terra Pax, Pergolesi Magnificat, and Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio, with orchestra, harp and organ. These are three interesting pieces that were new to most of the choir.

“Singing is so enjoyable — and Wantage Choral Society makes it even more fun.” 

In March, we will be singing some better-known works – Haydn Te Deum, Mozart Vespers K339, and Vivaldi Gloria.

If you like choral singing and would like to part of the fun, please come and join us as we are looking for new members.

There are no auditions, so you can turn up on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm, at Wantage CE Primary School (near Manor Park), or email us following the links on wantagechoralsociety.co.uk to tell us you are coming or for more information. We would love to see you. 

Alternatively, do come and listen to us at our concert on Saturday 21st March 2026 at Wantage Parish Church. 

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