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| National Youth Choirs of Great Britain | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Youth Choirs of Great Britain |
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Patrick Allen |
| Genre | Choral music |
| Chief conductor | James Jordan |
National Youth Choirs of Great Britain is a national choral organisation based in the United Kingdom that trains, develops and presents youth choral singers across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It operates a federated model combining residential training, national ensembles and regional outreach, collaborating with leading institutions, festivals and broadcasters to present concerts, tours and commissions. Its activities intersect with major cultural organisations, academic conservatoires and arts funding bodies to support pathways from amateur participation to professional performance.
Founded in 1983, the organisation emerged amid a resurgence of youth arts provision linked to institutions such as the Arts Council England, Scottish Arts Council, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Welsh Arts Council. Early leadership drew on figures associated with the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and conservatoires including the Royal Northern College of Music. During the 1990s and 2000s it expanded under directors with links to ensembles such as the BBC Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and collaborated with festivals like the Edinburgh International Festival, BBC Proms, Glyndebourne Festival Opera and Cheltenham Music Festival. Major milestones included premieres at venues such as Royal Albert Hall, tours to venues like Carnegie Hall and partnerships with broadcasters including BBC Radio 3, BBC Television and Classic FM.
The charity model places governance under a board akin to trustees working with funders including Arts Council England, philanthropic trusts such as the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and corporate partners like major music publishers. Leadership teams have professional links to higher education institutions such as King's College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and conservatoires including the Royal Academy of Music. Artistic direction has involved conductors and educators with associations to ensembles such as The Sixteen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, St John's College, Cambridge and choirs led by figures linked to awards like the Gramophone Awards and Grammy Awards. Operational partnerships have included touring promoters, venue managers at institutions like Cadogan Hall and policy stakeholders such as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The organisation runs multiple national and regional choirs and strands drawing singers from across the UK, with auditioned ensembles comparable to National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, National Youth Jazz Orchestra and choral programmes at institutions such as Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Programmes include youth choirs for different age ranges with residential courses held at centres like Royal Holloway, University of London, Cardiff University and St George's House, Windsor Castle. Specialist programmes have partnered with the London Contemporary Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and early music specialists such as The Tallis Scholars and The Sixteen for historically informed performance training. Outreach strands work alongside local authorities and charities connected to Children's Society, Save the Children and community choirs affiliated with municipal venues.
Repertoire spans Renaissance liturgy performed by scholars of Oxford Camerata, Baroque works associated with ensembles like The English Concert, Romantic cycles in the tradition of Berlin Philharmonic Choir performances, and contemporary commissions by composers linked to institutions such as Royal Opera House, English National Opera and university composition departments at Royal Holloway. Commissioned works have been written by composers with ties to awards such as the PRS for Music Foundation commissions, winners of the Ivors Academy prizes and graduates of composition programmes at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Royal College of Music. The repertoire programme includes premieres at festivals including Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and collaborations with soloists from houses like Metropolitan Opera and La Scala.
National tours have included concerts at international venues such as Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Wembley Arena and cathedrals like Canterbury Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral. Tours and broadcasts have been promoted through partnerships with broadcasters BBC Radio 3, Classic FM and streaming platforms used by ensembles such as London Philharmonic Orchestra. Media projects have included studio recordings with labels associated with Decca Records, EMI Classics and independent choral labels, live cinema retransmissions similar to those of Royal Opera House and televised appearances at events like the BBC Proms and national commemorations such as Remembrance Sunday services.
Educational activities include residential courses, workshops, leadership training, vocal technique tuition informed by methods used at Royal College of Music and curriculum-linked projects for schools partnering with bodies like the Department for Education and trusts such as the Foyle Foundation. Outreach programmes collaborate with community choirs, youth organisations such as the Scouts and arts charities including Music for Youth and Sing Up. Training for conductors and accompanists often involves masterclasses given by teachers from institutions like Royal Academy of Music and visiting conductors associated with ensembles such as BBC Singers and The Sixteen.
The organisation and its alumni have received recognition in contexts such as national music education awards, listings in media outlets including The Guardian, The Times and BBC News, and professional accolades where alumni have joined ensembles like London Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Academy of St Martin in the Fields and international choirs such as the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Impact assessments referenced by arts funders and cultural commentators situate it alongside national youth arts programmes like the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and Youth Music, noting contributions to talent development, cultural diplomacy and community participation.
Category:Choirs