Ben Pedley memorial concert in great hall

Wide shot of choir singing at Ben Pedley memorial concert

Choir singers close-up at the Ben Pedley memorial concert

Music

Music at Reading and the Music Society (RUMS) offer many opportunities for all students, staff, alumni and local community musicians to get involved and make music together.

Music at Reading is home to a number of ensembles, led by professional conductors. These include the Chamber Choir, Big Band, Academic Voices and Campus voices, who rehearse weekly. Our festival ensembles, Festival Sinfonia and Festival Voices, meet for intensive weekends of music making and performances in the Autumn and Spring terms.

Find out more about Music at Reading ensembles, rehearsals and events on our website.

The Reading University Music Society (RUMS) hosts a collection of student-led ensembles such as a large wind band, the ukulele group, flute choir and clarinet choir to name a few. RUMS is fully supported by Music at Reading, and gives students the opportunity to form their own ensembles and choose their own repertoire.

Find out more about RUMS membership, ensembles, rehearsals and events.

Get involved in our music scene and enjoy regular concerts throughout the year – you won’t be short of opportunities to play, sing, or even conduct!

How it works

Societies

At Reading, we have a wide range of arts, dance and music societies for you to join, as well as opportunities to get involved in film-making, writing, media, drama and more.

Societies at Reading are beginner-friendly, but some also offer mixed-ability and advanced levels for those with more experience. Societies are either taught by professional teachers or are student-led, which makes for a wide variety of experiences and learning.

See a full list of societies at Reading.

Two people standing in front of a large map in the MERL

Interior display in the MERL with a visitor observing it

Family visitors looking at interior display in the MERL

Museums and Collections

Our museums and collections are open to all.

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) has fascinating galleries, a beautiful garden, a cafe and an astonishing array of objects, archives, photographs, film and library materials.

Follow the museum's famous twitter account: @TheMERL.

At the Cole Museum of Zoology, you can tour the animal kingdom in just one hour, while at the Ure museum you can learn about Greek mythology and life through everyday and extraordinary objects.

Our library and archive, Special Collections, is available to all via our reading room services, and you can also access our research and teaching by appointment.

Drama society girl posing artistically in black and white

two students dancing lindy hop on the quad

Drama society performance of Spring Awakening in 3Sixty

Art, Music and Dance facilities

Multiple societies offer exciting opportunities in drama, music and dance that cover a range of styles, genres and abilities. Led by experienced students and teachers, you can perform your way through university in weekly rehearsals and regular events.

There are also societies that offer opportunities for students interested in media, film, comedy and fine art.

Rehearsal and performance spaces

The University hosts a range of exciting performance events all year round, and provides rehearsal facilities across both Whiteknights and London Road campuses.

The spaces include 3sixty, the Great Hall, the Meadow Suite, SportsPark, Mojo's Bar, the ballroom in Wessex Hall and several music practice rooms (check for availability).

Our largest venue

Outside of being a rehearsal and performance space, 3sixty is Reading's largest venue with a capacity of over 2,000. All week, 3sixty hosts a wide variety of events day and night, to suit all tastes. The lively venue has also hosted conferences, comedians, club nights and live bands. Pendulum, Zane Lowe, Scott Mills, Wretch 32, Tinie Tempah, Chipmunk, Professor Green and Greg James have all performed on stage at 3sixty.

Practical equipment

Societies are welcome to use RUSU-owned facilities, but may also invest in their own equipment such as lights, speakers, costumes and kit.

Facilities, spaces and practice rooms

Reading Film Theatre

Located in the Palmer building, Reading Film Theatre (RFT) is Reading's only independent cinema.

Established nearly 50 years ago, Reading Film Theatre brings you the very best in world films. Our programme includes the latest blockbusters, as well as a wide range of smaller-budget and foreign language films. We also screen beautifully made films which raise important and challenging issues that you won’t find on the multiplex circuit.

Visit the RFT website.

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