Hundreds of children perform as part of annual concerts

Nearly 800 children from schools across Wokingham Borough have had the chance to perform in a professional theatre.

The Wokingham Area School Music Association (WASMA) performances were held at The Hexagon in Reading over the weekend of 21 and 22 March.

The theme for this year was ‘Radio WASMA’ and took inspiration from the DJ Johnny Walker's BBC Radio 2 show, which had a regular feature known as Johnny's Jukebox.

The audience were able to tune in and suggest tracks to be added to the WASMA playlist.

Now in its 79th year, WASMA has grown from a handful of schools in Wokingham to an organisation providing opportunities for primary schools across the borough, with 33 schools taking part this year.

Fourteen songs were selected, featuring a wide range of genres, ranging from Scarborough Fair (folk/traditional), through I Got Rhythm (jazz) and Country Roads (country) to Rapper’s Delight (hip hop). Other musical styles featured included rock and roll, blues, soul, Latin, reggae and electronic dance.

The WASMA performances focus on the fun of singing together in a large choir, but schools also take on short sections of drama and choreograph colourful dances to many of the songs. 

Sixty-six children across the two shows had an opportunity to sing a solo in a professional theatre to an audience of 1,200 people.

Wokingham Borough Council has played a major role in organising the WASMA events since 2003, in partnership with schools and more recently with the Berkshire Music Trust.

A number of sixth form students from The Piggott, St Crispin’s and The Forest secondary schools were involved in the video and large screen projection aspects of the productions, working alongside a professional video company as camera operators and other roles.

Local Rotary clubs also play a part through producing and selling the printed souvenir programme. The proceeds from programme sales are donated to local charities.

The Saturday 21 March concert included children from: Alder Grove, Bearwood, Beechwood, Colleton, Coombes, Earley St Peter’s, Farley Hill, Finchampstead, Gorse Ride, Hawthorns, Highwood, Keep Hatch, Loddon, Polehampton Junior, Radstock, Robert Piggott Junior and St Nicholas Hurst.  

The Sunday 22 March concert included: All Saints, Charvil Piggott, Floreat Montague Park, Grazeley, Hawkedon, Nine Mile Ride, Oaklands Junior, Sonning, St Cecilia's, St Dominic Savio, St Paul's Junior, Wheatfield, Whiteknights, Willow Bank Junior, Windmill and Winnersh.