This year The Barberettes are celebrating our 50th anniversary. We may be only two months into 2025 but our calendar is filling up with lots of interesting and exciting events. One such event will see us heading to Provence, France, in July to take part in 'Le Concours International Choral en Provence' - an international choral festival.

To begin our journey to Provence The Barberettes had our first 'singout' of 2025 when we had the great opportunity to perform some of the songs to the Caversham Tangent Club at Sonning Golf Club that we will be taking to France with us.

The performance was well received by the audience who were amazing fisherman when we sang our sea shanty 'What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor' and proved that the Barbs don't need to have any alcohol to be 'drunk' (although a few glasses of Prosecco or some G&T's would definitely be a treat). Whilst the chorus members gave the event their all it did highlight that there was still some work we need to work on to be the best we can be!

We now look forward to our next singout in May where we will be joining forces with the Reading Male Voice Choir to help raise much needed funds for the Royal Berks NHS Charity.

As an amateur choir we don't get funding from the council and whilst a few of our singouts are paid for the majority of our funds come from monthly subs our members pay and any fundraising activities we carry out over the years. So raising this colossal amount will mean that the Barberettes will hopefully be doing some more fundraising events over the course of this year to help lower the cost for those members lucky enough to be able to attend.

One such fundraising activity is the GoFundMe page we have set up to try and raise some funds to cover some of the costs (31 singers = £18k!!).. If you believe in us as much as we do and can spare £5 or £10 (or more if you want!), the chorus would be eternally grateful. 

Here’s to happy singing ? ? 

https://gofund.me/287aebe2

https://gofund.me/30653f80