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To all the performers and their families, thank you for being part of our festival.
We hope that this experience has inspired you to continue pursuing your passion for the performing arts.
Our warmest wishes for future success and happiness in your performing endeavours.

Choral Timetable 2026

Saturday 7th, & Sunday 8th March

(Dates may vary according to entry levels)

Venue – The Emmbrook School, Wokingham, RG41 1JP Map

Entries are now closed for 2026 Festival.

You can download the 2026 Choirs syllabus here.

Chairman: Ann Peddle
Assistant Janice Ellwood
Assistant James Peddle
Email: Choirs@WoodleyFestival.org.uk

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Conditions of Entry Choral

1. OWN CHOICE pieces must be stated on the entry form. Own choice pieces must
be by published composers, not own compositions. 

2. TIME LIMITS, where specified, must be strictly observed. The performance time of the piece should be included on the entry form. In any class, the adjudicator reserves the right to stop a performance, and may choose an appropriate penalty – e.g. marks may be deducted or 1st place may not be gained. This reflects not the quality of the performance but is purely in consideration of the time spent overall. Responsibility for timing rests with the performer and their teacher / coach.

 

See Also General Conditions of Entry Below.

General Conditions of Entry
Please note special Conditions of Entry for each section above

1. A COPY OF PIECES FOR THE USE OF THE ADJUDICATOR must be handed in prior to your performance, and be collected at the end of the class. Please make sure your name is on the copy.

2. LATE ENTRIES are not normally accepted. Where feasible, the Section Chair may possibly exercise discretion to accept a late entry shortly after the closing date. Time is of the essence, so make any such request by phone or email, not post. Fees for unaccepted late entries will be returned.

Choral Section Adjudicator 2026
Charlie Penn

Charlie Penn graduated from the University of Birmingham where he studied the piano with Joseph Middleton. He has a busy freelance career as a versatile musician specialising in work with choirs of all ages and abilities.

Charlie is a Britten-Pears Young Artist, previously joining the music staff for the award-winning Grimes on the Beach in Aldeburgh. He is director of the Harborough Singers, the A440 choir in Reading, and he also works with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain as an assistant conductor and accompanist.

Additionally, he delivers choral workshops and training in schools across the country for ABRSM Voices, accompanies singing sessions in special needs schools in the West Midlands for Music of Life, and regularly works with Sinfonia Viva on their education and orchestral projects. On stage in the UK and Australia, he has appeared in Orpheus, an original piece devised and performed by Little Bulb Theatre and as Keyboard 1 in an exciting new orchestration of the Threepenny Opera for the renowned Salzburg Festival. He has even made a brief appearance on the BBC’s The One Show, teaching Lee Mack some basic piano vamping!

Choral Trophies

Trophy Description Winner 2025
Star Award Infant Choir Class Crosfields 
Forley Cup Lower Junior Choir Class Winnersh Primary School
John Keane Trophy Lower Junior Choir Class Kensington Choir (Abbey)
John Keane Choral Shield Upper Junior Choir Class St Joseph’s Prep Chamber Choir
John Keane Award Upper Junior Choir Class Abbey Chamber Choir
John Keane Cup Upper Junior Choir Class Somerleaze Singers (Abbey)
Walker Cup Young People’s Choir Y9 and under Luckley House School
Walker Trophy Young People’s Choir Y13 and under St Joseph’s College Chamber Choir
Cantilena Trophy Best Adult Performance Signature
Jenny Brown Choir of the Year Award Choir of the Year Across the Choral Section Winnersh Primary School