Details for Members

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This is where RYO members can find details of rehearsals and membership. Scroll down, or jump to the relevant section:

Rehearsal information

Rehearsals will take place on Friday nights from 7:30-9:30pm at Crosfields School, Shinfield Road, Reading RG2 9BL. There is a short break in the middle of the rehearsal – please bring your own refreshments if required.

Term dates and location

Below venues may change due to school events, so please check back regularly. Mel will email members if there are short notice changes.

Autumn Term 2026

All rehearsals at Crosfields School unless otherwise marked:

Sep 11th, 18th, 25th
Oct 2nd, 9th 16th, 23rd
[Half term – no rehearsal 30th Oct]
Nov 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
Dec 4th

December performance and social date tbc

Spring Term 2027

All rehearsals at Crosfields School unless otherwise marked:

Jan 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
Feb 5th, 12th
[Half term – no rehearsal 19th Feb]
Feb 26th
Mar 5th, 12th, 19th

Spring concert date tbc

Summer Term 2027

All rehearsals at Crosfields School unless otherwise marked:

Apr 16th, 23rd, 30th
May 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
[Half term – no rehearsal 4th Jun]
Jun 11th, 18th, 25th
Jul 2nd, 9th

Summer performance and social date tbc

Crosfields School venue:

Crosfields School, Shinfield Road, Reading RG2 9BL

Please enter via the Shinfield Rd gates marked ‘Main Entrance’. (Do not use the sports centre entrance as this is a longer walk)

From the car park, enter the school through the gate to the left of reception. Follow the covered pathway around (the hall is through the windows on your right). Enter through the third set of doors on the right, where you can unpack instruments and leave your cases.

Larger instruments/percussion can use the first set of doors. Please speak to Mel or Becky if you are unsure.

Map showing location of the car park and hall at Crosfields School

Loddon Primary School Venue:

Occasionally we have used Loddon Primary School. The dates above will be updated with venue changes and emails will be sent to confirm – please keep an eye on the website just in case.

Vehicle access is available from 7:15pm only and indicated with a yellow arrow below – please enter from Silverdale Road into the car park. There is a pedestrian gate into the school grounds – follow the dotted orange arrow marked on the map below to enter the hall.

Image shows a map of the school grounds showing access.
Front page of English Folk Songs Suite score, by Vaughan Williams, with a conductor's baton

Repertoire

During the Autumn and Spring terms of 2026-7, we will mainly be focusing on:

  • Dvorak – New World Symphony
  • Bernstein – West Side Story, Selections for Orchestra, arr. Jack Mason

Please contact Mel if you do not have any of this music.

Membership subscriptions

Membership is £79 per term, or £74 for payment by/on the first rehearsal (or agreed date as communicated at the start of each term). Please contact treasurer@ or hello@ for the payment details.

Upcoming events

  • October 2026 date tbc – Holst ‘The Planets’ workshop
  • December 2026 date tbc – End of term performance for parents
  • March 2027 date tbc – Spring Concert
  • June/July 2027 date tbc – End of term performance for parents

Covid mitigations

We complete risk assessments for our rehearsals and concerts. We have now removed the requirement for members to wear a mask during rehearsals. The current mitigations still in place are:

  • don’t attend if you have a positive Covid test result
  • don’t attend if you have any Covid symptoms, symptoms of a respiratory infection, a temperature or generally unwell
  • we keep the hall ventilated, so in cold weather please wear layers to keep warm.
RYO distanced in masks, rehearsing at John Madejski Academy