A READING choir will be putting on a special concert this weekend to mark International Women's Day.

Women of Note - a performance of music solely from female composers - will be on show at the University of Reading's Great Hall on London Road on Saturday, March 2.

Reading Phoenix Choir, a mixed choir that meets every Monday at South Lake Primary School in Woodley, is behind the concert.

Attendees will hear music from the likes of Vittoria Aleotti, Sally Beamish, Kerensa Briggs, Elaine Hagenberg, Cecilia McDowall, Sarah Quartel and Hildegard Von Bingen.

The highlight of the evening will be a performance of Cecilia McDowall's cantata "Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo", which tells the story of Nujeen Mustafa, a Kurdish teenager with cerebral palsy who taught herself English by watching American television in her home in Aleppo, Syria.

She then, at 16, travelled over 3,500 miles to Germany by having her wheelchair pushed by her sister. Her story became an international sensation and has been set to music by Cecilia McDowall. Reading Phoenix Choir will be joined by Taplow Boys' Choir in this performance.

Tickets are £20 on the door or £18 purchased in advanced. Visit whatsonreading.com for more details. 

Reading Phoenix Choir was established in 1969 by the founding musical director Norman Morris. 

The choir quickly became recognised as one of the top amateur choirs in the country.