A popular piece of Christmas music which escaped, along with its composer, being destroyed by German U-boats is being performed in Caversham.
Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols will be sung at Queen Anne’s School on December 16 by South Chiltern Choral Society and children from The Hill Primary School.
In 1942 the composer was aboard a cargo ship crossing the Atlantic, where many U-boats lurked, when he wrote the earliest version of the carols. Very fortunately Britten and the carols made it back to the UK safely.
The concert is the society’s first one conducted by their new music director Helen Bilkey, who is also director of music at The Abbey School, Reading.
Born into a Cornish family with a strong singing tradition, Helen has spent her life involved in music, both in schools and the wider community. She has set up and directed many community choirs and choruses.
Accompanying the singers will be Ian Westley on the piano and Helena Pizura on the harp. There will be carols for the choir and the audience to sing and refreshments available.
The choral society, based Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge School, Sonning Common, will raise funds for Reading Home Start through a collection at the concert which starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets at £16 (under 11s are free) are available from www.southchilternchoralsociety.org.uk or on the door.
