Singing brings space alive in a wonderful way
GetReading, October 9th 2009
Church-goers raised the rafters with song as they celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Churches Conservation Trust.
Music spilled out of the 700-year-old church in Lower Basildon as part of the Birthday Song on Sunday last week when The Cameo Singers came to lead the choir for the national celebration.
St Bartholomew's is one of 40 churches in the country selected as one of the most nationally historically significant and regulars as well as newcomers took part in the event to try to encourage more people to come to church.
Peter Lankester, regional manager of the Churches Conservation Trust, said: " Churches such as St Bartholomew's are a vital part of our country's heritage and a focal point for communities and keepers of our local and national history, but they are at risk. The Trust believes these magnificent buildings must be conserved for present and future generations by putting them back at the heart of contemporary community life, and opened up for the enjoyment of everyone. Singing brings these spaces alive in a truly wonderful way - harking back over hundreds of years of community use and bringing ancient acoustics to life for everyone to enjoy. Birthday Song was a truly wonderful day and we were delighted to see people fill the church."
Those taking part in Birthday Song were also encouraged to vote online for a song they wanted to sing on the day, and the most nominated was Jerusalem.
For more information on the trust see www.visitchurches.org.uk
Jodi conjures night of festive revelry - 3rd December 2004
Wokingham Times, December 22nd 2004
Pensioners from across the district were treated to a night of Christmas entertainment thanks to pupils at Emmbrook School.
On Friday, December 3, around 30 pensioners went to the school in Emmbrook Road to enjoy a fun-packed evening compliments of sixth-former Jodi Larsen and her friends. Members of the Cameo Singers entertained the revellers in the school's main hall from 6.30pm with a performance of carols and old-tyme music. The Barbarettes and Brekk Magic also provided entertainment with refreshments, bingo and a raffle all making for an enjoyable evening.
"The magicians and Cameo Singers went down really well and all the visitors had a good old sing-a-long to get them in the Christmas spirit", said Jodi.
"Town hall perfect backdrop for singers"
Wokingham Times, October 6th 2004
Sixteen members of the Cameo Singers put on a concert in the Town Hall, offering a variety of pieces including some early madrigals and Mozart. Clare Garner, secretary of the choir said: "I think the audience really enjoyed themselves and the variety of music that we delivered. We were also joined by the Cameo Consort, a companion group of the singers, and they offered instrumental (and vocal - ed) performances."
The Cameo Singers next performance will be a Christmas concert in December.
Wokingham Mayor's Charity Christmas Concert - 14th December, 2001
Wokingham Times, January 3rd, 2002
Wokingham's Town Hall resounded with seasonal songs last month at the Mayor's Charity Christmas Concert.
Mayor Cllr Tony Barber and wife Doreen joined in with the festive sing-song on December 14th at the concert in aid of Imperial Cancer Research.
More than £350 was raised during the evening, which featured vocalists from The Cameo Singers and the District Boys' Choir.
Mayor, Cllr Barber said: "It was a great evening - we had mulled wine, mince pies and crackers. I was in good voice but let's just say 'The Lord said sing with cheerful voice but he didn't say anything about singing in tune!'"
Golden night as singers hit all the right notes
Wokingham Times, May 9th 2001
Fifty years ago, three friends deplored the fact that Wokingham was enfolded in a "musical desert" and decided to start the Wokingham Madrigal Society, which later became the Cameo Singers. The first concert was performed at Wokingham Town hall, so this elegant setting was the most appropriate venue for the 50th anniversary concert.
The singers began with three madrigals, which had been performed at the very first concert. Their precise, balanced, rich tones and nimble fa-la-las were a pleasure to hear in these Elizabethan pieces. Later madrigals included a very good, neat performance of the well known Now is the month of Maying. The programme included modern sacred music - Rachmaninoff and Durufle - and an impressive performance of Jonathan Dove's intricate 1996 composition Into Thy Hands.
An offshoot of the society is the instrumental Cameo Consort. Shelagh Trist's gentle, mellow soprano blended beautifully with Ann Turner's flute and Lorna White's keyboard in Cherubini's Ave Maria. It contrasted well with Michael Head's jaunty The Piper. Director Ian May led the singing of his delightful arrangements of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and of Vaughan Williams' dainty Linden Lea.
The evening closed with a selection of Abba hits, which gave an idea of the wide capacity of the singers.