Charity, Wimborne | Posted on August 26th, 2026 | return to news

Oz Clarke’s singing charity cyclists to ar-pe(dal)-ggio into Wimborne

Cycling choir to delight across Devon and Dorset for dementia charity.

As part of a September 4-day bike challenge to fundraise for children’s and dementia choirs, Oz Clarke is leading a 15-strong choir on cycles to busk and play concerts across the Jurassic coast, visiting Lyme Regis and Wimborne Minster.

Guest community and school choirs will help, busking in pubs and cafés along with care home visits and schools’ workshops. Oz Clarke is a former choral singer alongside his career as TV wine expert.

The group of singing cyclists from music charity Armonico Consort are taking on the four-day Charity Bike Challenge (8-11 September) from Exeter to Wimborne to raise funds to establish children’s choirs and dementia choirs in the region.

Along the route, they will play public concerts in Budleigh Salterton (8 Sep), Lyme Regis (9 Sep) and Wimborne Minster (11 Sep) where Oz and Armonico’s professional singers and instrumentalists will be joined by special guest choirs, singing extracts from Handel’s great oratorio Messiah and famous Zadok the Priest.

The group will also burst into song at cafes and pubs on their fundraising mission. Along the route, the 15-strong team will also inspire children through schools’ workshops and bring music and laughter to people living with dementia in visits to care homes.

Celebrating Armonico Consort’s 25th anniversary in September, the team are donating their time and talent to help raise vital funds to establish children’s choirs and dementia choirs across the region, bringing the transformative power of music to people of all ages.

Armonico has been doing this for many years – including in the Poole and Bournemouth area – and is now building new relationships in Devon and Dorset to expand its signature school Choir Creation programme and Memory Singers projects in the area.

Check the website for up-to-date information and come and cheer them along.