Funeral and wedding choirs in Reading
Reading sits at the heart of Berkshire, where the Kennet meets the Thames and centuries-old churches stand alongside a modern, growing town. The London Choral Service provides professional singers, choirs, and instrumentalists for funerals, weddings, memorials, and ceremonies across Reading and the surrounding Berkshire countryside. Every musician on our team is conservatoire-trained, and every performance is shaped with care around the service and its setting.
Funeral music in Reading
Losing someone you love leaves a kind of silence that nothing quite fills. Choosing music for their funeral, in the middle of grief, can feel like an impossible task. We understand that, and we are here to carry that weight for you. Our singers perform at funerals and memorial services across Reading and Berkshire — at Reading Minster (St Mary’s), whose medieval nave has held generations of farewells, at St Giles’ Church with its peaceful setting near the town centre, and at Reading Crematorium at Henley Road, Caversham. We also cover parish churches right across the county, from Caversham and Tilehurst to Wokingham, Woodley, and beyond.
Perhaps you would like a soprano singing Pie Jesu as mourners arrive, or a small choir to lead the congregation through The Lord’s My Shepherd. Perhaps a lone cellist playing softly as the coffin is carried in would feel more fitting. Whatever you have in mind — or even if you have no idea where to begin — we will guide you gently towards music that honours the person you are saying goodbye to. Our funeral music guide offers suggestions for hymns, solos, and choral works, with notes on when each works best. You are also always welcome to telephone us; there is never any obligation, and we are happy simply to listen and talk things through.
Wedding music in Reading
Reading and the wider Thames Valley have a wide range of wedding settings. Reading Minster gives you a grand, historic backdrop; the parish churches across Berkshire — in Sonning, Pangbourne, Goring, and Henley-on-Thames — offer something more intimate. For civil ceremonies at riverside hotels and country houses, a live choir does what a recording cannot: lead a congregation through a hymn most of them only half-remember, and follow it with a piece during the signing of the register that guests will go on talking about over dinner. Our choirs and soloists perform throughout the ceremony: the processional as you walk down the aisle, the hymns that bring the room together, a reflective piece during the signing of the register, and a recessional to carry you back down the aisle.
We work with each couple to find music that fits them: traditional hymns, a contemporary arrangement of a favourite song, or a piece with particular meaning to you both. If you are still exploring your options, our guide to choosing wedding hymns is a helpful starting point, covering popular choices alongside a few less obvious pieces that have worked well for our couples.
Ensembles & pricing
We offer everything from a single soloist to a full choir of up to twelve voices, and can pair singers with an organist, harpist, or string quartet. Every musician is hand-picked from our conservatoire-trained team. Because no two occasions are alike, we encourage you to tell us a little about what you have in mind so we can recommend the right ensemble and provide an accurate quote. Full details of our standard packages are on our pricing page, or simply get in touch and we’ll tailor something to your needs.
“I still can’t talk about it without welling up. The moment they started singing, the whole room just fell silent. Dad would have been so chuffed.”
Christmas carol singers in Reading
Every December we perform carol services and carol singing for offices, hotels, and residents’ events across Reading and Berkshire, from the medieval nave of Reading Minster to hotel lobbies and community halls. Churches and companies after a full programme of carols can book a carol service, and venues planning a party can instead arrange carol singers for your event.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a funeral singer cost in Reading?
A soloist in Reading starts from £250, a choir of four is £1,150, a choir of five £1,400, a choir of six £1,600, and a full choir of eight £2,000. Reading is within comfortable reach of London, though a small travel supplement may apply for venues further out in Berkshire. All fees include liaison with your funeral director.
Can you provide a choir for a wedding in Reading?
Yes. Our wedding choirs perform at Reading Minster, St Giles' Church, and the lovely parish churches in Sonning, Pangbourne, Goring, and Henley-on-Thames. We also sing at civil ceremony venues and riverside hotels across the Thames Valley, and we tailor the ensemble and repertoire to suit your ceremony.
What types of music can you perform at a funeral in Reading?
Our singers perform traditional hymns, classical sacred works, and contemporary songs. The medieval nave of Reading Minster carries choral music beautifully, while services at Reading Crematorium at Henley Road often suit a soloist or smaller ensemble. We can also arrange any personal favourite for voices or instruments.
Do you cover crematorium services in Reading?
Yes. We sing regularly at Reading Crematorium at Henley Road, Caversham, and our musicians are well accustomed to its timing and acoustic. We liaise directly with crematorium staff and your funeral director so the music fits the service exactly.
Do you provide carol singers in Reading in December?
Yes. We provide carol services and roaming carol singers for offices, hotels, and residents’ Christmas events across Reading and Berkshire. December is our busiest month, and dates are usually booked out by mid-September, so we’d suggest enquiring in good time. Our Christmas page has full details.
For more guidance, explore our funeral music guide, popular funeral hymns, wedding hymns guide, or funeral music costs guide.