The Barberettes, a women’s barbershop chorus based in Earley, is celebrating a standout year of community engagement, with music-making that has brought people together across Reading, Wokingham and the wider Thames Valley.
They are incredibly proud to have been chosen by Ladies Association of Barbershop Singers as the first ever winners of the Club in the Community award 2026.
Community involvement sits at the heart of everything the chorus does. Over the past year, The Barberettes delivered an impressive 22 performances, with all but two focused on supporting community events, charities and local groups.
Their appearances not only provide high-quality entertainment but help organisers attract audiences while giving the chorus meaningful ways to share their craft.
Flexibility has played a key role in their success. When venues cannot accommodate the full chorus, The Barberettes perform in smaller formations—such as quartets, octets or mid-sized groups — ensuring no community request has to be turned down due to space limitations.
Highlights from the year included performances in care homes, where residents were encouraged to sing along, and at town festivals and carnivals in Wokingham and Woodley — one famously held during near-monsoon conditions.
The chorus also sang at charity fundraising dinners, supporting causes close to members’ hearts, including domestic abuse services and cancer care.
A long-standing relationship with Royal Berkshire Hospital’s charity has seen The Barberettes perform at concerts, pop-up festivals and Reading Station events, most recently helping to raise funds for a new cancer scanner.
Through their community work, The Barberettes helped raise just under £12,500 for charities, while also growing their membership to 43 singers.
Demand continues to grow, with bookings already confirmed into 2026.
