40th Annual Convention

From 10:30am on Saturday 17 October 2026
to 2:00pm on Sunday 18 October 2026

Venue: Reading University

Celebrating the past: shaping the future

We’re delighted to be returning to Reading for our 40th Convention, in the Great Hall at Reading University.

Join us for a very special weekend as we celebrate our fortieth anniversary, with many of the people who have helped make us what we are today, as well as looking ahead to the future, and, of course, lots of workshops, repertoire, exhibition and networking for everyone who leads singing, whatever their experience.

Come for the weekend – or just for a day. Find out more about the history of our famous Convention here.

Convention is for anyone and everyone involved in leading singers of any age. It’s a place where everyone is an equal, whatever their experience. Leading a choir can be lonely! Everyone is your colleague at Convention, whether you’re tentatively taking the first steps into leading singers, or you’re one of our best-known choral leaders and composers. Come to network, come to learn new skills, come to find piles of new music, come to recharge your batteries, come for inspiration.

About the weekend

• meet and network with fellow choral leaders, teachers, publishers, composers and more
• celebrate forty years of abcd with key people who have shaped our organisation, including our Vice-Presidents Bob Chilcott, Sue Hollingworth and Brian Kay
• choose from three strands of sessions running through the weekend, led by presenters including Amy Bebbington, Peter Broadbent, Nicholas Cleobury and Mark Jordan
• follow our dedicated strand for everyone working with young voices, with sessions led by Rebecca Berkley (Associate Professor in Music Education, Reading University) and children’s choir Universal Voices, Matt Roughley, Sue Hollingworth, Jenny Trattles, Suzzie Vango, and the Dorico team.
• discover the latest repertoire to try out through the weekend
• inspirational and practical sessions for all leaders, covering technique, repertoire, running your choir and more
• a full day of sessions on Saturday. Convention starts at 10.30am and sessions run until 6pm.
• sessions on Sunday morning, starting at 9.30am and finishing with lunch at 1.15pm.
• optional concert and informal dinner on Saturday night
• our famous trade exhibition to browse over your coffee

Our exhibition

Our trade exhibition is open all weekend in the Great Hall: chat with publishers and composers, browse through some real sheet music, book players and singers and start planning that long awaited choir trip! 

Our venue, accommodation and travel

Reading was a very popular venue for Convention two years ago, so we’re delighted to be able to return there. Convention takes place in the London Road site of the university, based in the Great Hall, a popular concert venue, and its Music Education department. Our exhibition, plenary space and refreshments will all be alongside each other, a great way to network and browse.

There is no accommodation on site, but there is a good choice of accommodation in hotels, guest houses and self-catering within walking distance. There is ample free parking on-site and Reading station is within walking distance. There is plenty of reasonably priced accommodation in the town centre, with special delegate deals at many. 

Delegate fees

Delegate fees includes full access to sessions, our exhibition, online access to new repertoire listings, tea, coffee and lunch.

abcd member discounts: Member, Young Conductor and Student 20%, Member Plus 25% – find out more about joining us here.

Book now to claim your Early Bird rate! Early Bird rates finish on 1 September

• Full Convention Early Bird rate £265
• Saturday only Early Bird rate £152
• Sunday only Early Bird rate £120
• Saturday evening two-course informal buffet dinner including a pre-dinner glass of wine or soft drink – £27

Our Convention photos are courtesy of Reading University, or taken by abcd.

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