Free Easter trail in town centre
AN EASTER trail around Reading town centre launches tomorrow (Friday).
Organised by REDA, the family-friendly event is free to take part in.
Shop windows are hiding 14 different eggs, and the challenge is to find them.
Special trail maps can be found at The Oracle customer service desk, or by logging on to whatonreading.com.
Once complete, they can be returned to special boxes set up in Reading Town Hall, the Visitor Information Point at the Train Station, and The Oracle Customer Service Desk.
The event runs until Sunday, April 14.
Train Don’t Stop and The Project Singers closed the first heats with a Best of Broadway Medley.
Following the interval, which featured dances from Kalakunj, the judges announced who would be making it through to the second round.
Selina and The Howlin Dogs, Aadya Yadav, Charis Anne Luke, The Hill Primary, Avenue, Weller Voices, Daniella De Frietas, Reading School, The Project Singers, and Chris McGowan were selected.
Highlights included Reading School’s performance of Locus Iste and a Rocket Man by Chris McGowan.
Selina and The Howlin Dogs were awarded the runner-up prize in the Senior category, with Avenue taking the top spot.
Judges named The Hill Primary School choir as the winners in the Junior category to rapturous applause.
Selina of Selina and the Howlin Dogs said: “We applied as a fourpiece, but we performed as a duet, and it was so great to be back on stage at The Hexagon.
“To come back and perform our original music was amazing; but just being a part of such a good community event is just wonderful.
“We didn’t think we’d even make it to the final, so it was a huge surprise – we’ve been together 10 years as a local band, and it’s been so nice to be a part of.”
Ahead of their announcement as winners, Avenue’s group leader Cat Hignell said: “We set up the group seven years ago, as there was not a group which was just right: modern and contemporary.
“This is the first year we have taken part, as the categories opened up and it is now open to a capella groups rather than just choirs.
“We are a really close group of friends now– we even go on holiday together.”
Finalist Chris McGowan said that a friend applied on their behalf: “They said to me ‘just say you’ll do it’ and I agreed.
“There are some really very talented competitors, especially the school choirs; all the school choirs I was in were naff.
“It’s been so lovely to play among such a diverse and talented group of performers.”
Aadya Yadav, the youngest soloist of the night, said following her performance: “It was a bit scary at the start, but I enjoyed it.
“I think it went well, and I’d be really happy to win, but I really liked performing.”