About us
The Choir
Parenthesis came into being as Central Berkshire Parents’ Choir in 1992. We are now an informal group of over 50 singers, who enjoy a wide range of music styles from jazz to oratorio.
We welcome singers of all levels of experience, and we do not require an audition. Some of our members are really good musicians, others have not sung since their school days.
Not everyone can sight read, and we run occasional workshops to build confidence and musical skills. We reckon we are the friendliest choir around and we run a range of social activities throughout the year, though with no compulsion to join in!
Our musical director
Richard has been our musical director since 2022 and we have been inspired by his musicality, his leadership, his repertoire selection, and his efficiency in getting us up to speed learning the music. Sadly, he is reducing his workload to devote more time to family commitments, so we will soon be looking for a successor. Interested? Please contact us.
Richard Harker is also musical director of The Hythe Singers, Hampton Choral Society, Henley Choral Society, Bath Spa University Chamber Choir, the Wallace Singers, APPS Singers and Teatime Opera. He is chorus master for Opera Holland Park, and singing lead at Beechview Academy, High Wycombe.
At Opera Holland Park Richard has worked on La Traviata (Assistant Conductor), La Bohème, Don Giovanni, Cosi Fan Tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro; Manon Lescaut and Un ballo in maschera (Chorus Master). Other operatic engagements have included Terterian’s Fire Ring at the Grimeborn Festival (London Armenian Opera), Schumann-devised opera Unknowingand Menotti’s The Telephone (Teatime Opera).
Richard graduated with an MA in Choral Conducting from the Royal Academy of Music, receiving the Thomas Armstrong Prize. He read music at, and was organ scholar of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he received the Swinburne Prize. When not making music, he is usually found down his allotment or walking his dog Louis.
our twin choir
Since 2003 we have been visiting and welcoming a large choir from a small village in the French Alps, La Stephanelle from St Etienne de Crossey. We have got into the habit of singing together every other year, either in England or in France.
Our accompanist
Martin Jones has been our accompanist for over twenty years. His skills as an accompanist are wonderful, in concert and in rehearsal. He is, from time to time, a soloist in concerts for us, and he has composed several pieces for us to sing.
