National Youth Choirs of Great Britain

National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB), formerly known as British Youth Choir and National Youth Choir, is a family of choirs for outstanding young singers, and those with outstanding potential, in the United Kingdom. It comprises a total of five choirs for around 900 young people between the ages of 9 and 25:[1]

  • National Youth Girls' Choir
  • National Youth Boys' Choir (incorporating Cambiata Voices).
  • National Youth Training Choir
  • National Youth Choir
  • National Youth Chamber Choir
National Youth Choirs of Great Britain
Choir
National Youth Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall in 2016.
National Youth Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall in 2016.
Also known asNYCGB
Former nameBritish Youth Choir
Founded1983 (1983)
Artistic DirectorLucy Hollins (starting Spring 2023)
Chief conductorBen Parry,, Joanna Tomlinson, Lucy Joy Morris, Greg Beardsell
HeadquartersDurham, England
LabelNYCGB Digital, NMC, Decca, Delphian, Sony & others
Websitewww.nycgb.org.uk

NYCGB also has a number of additional programmes and schemes, including its two emerging artists programmes, the Fellowship[2] and the Young Composers[3] scheme, and its Learning & Engagement[4] programme.

The organisation also has a strong community of over 1,000 former members, NYCGB Alumni,[5] who often participate in performances alongside NYCGB's flagship choirs.

Background and performance history

Founded in 1983 by Carl Browning, National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB) is the UK’s most exciting, innovative and accessible organisation for young choral singers. NYCGB inspires and empowers young people through the life-changing experience of singing together, is home to some of the best young singers in the world, and is a national champion for youth choral music.

NYCGB’s five choirs (National Youth Girls’ Choir of Great Britain, National Youth Boys’ Choir of Great Britain, National Youth Training Choir of Great Britain, National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and National Youth Chamber Choir of Great Britain) have a membership of over 800 young singers aged 9 to 25 from across the UK. Through residential courses and special projects, NYCGB provides its young people with the best choral training, teaching and collaborations possible: unbeatable opportunities to develop skills in music and performance, leadership and teamwork, and to grow in confidence and aspiration.

NYCGB choirs regularly give high-profile performances at venues and festivals such as the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, Sage Gateshead, the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham, Edinburgh Festival, Snape Proms and the BBC Proms[6] as well as at events of national significance.[7] High-profile international artists NYCGB has worked with range from Daniel Barenboim to Kylie Minogue. The music it creates and performs encompasses a wide diversity of genres and vocal styles and NYCGB regularly creates and releases audio and video recordings on its own record label, NYCGB Digital, and online platforms.

NYCGB passionately believe that all children and young people, regardless of background and circumstance, should be able to make music with others, and should have the opportunity to discover and explore their musical talent and achieve at the highest levels.

A major and growing strand of NYCGB’s work is its national Learning & Engagement programme which reaches over 3,500 young people each year. Working with regional music education hubs, schools and partner organisations including regional choirs and venues, NYCGB encourages more and more young people to sing together and pursue their passion and talent for singing at a regional and national level.

NYCGB also supports the development of emerging young professionals through its Fellowship programme for future choral leaders and performers and its Young Composers scheme.

Musical Directors & Conductors

Current Creative Director

Lucy Hollins is due to be appointed Creative Director of NYCGB in Spring 2023, succeeding Ben Parry, who held the position from 2012 to 2022.[8]

Current Principal Conductors
  • National Youth Choir & National Youth Chamber Choir: Ben Parry[9]
  • National Youth Girls' Choir: Joanna Tomlinson[10]
  • National Youth Boys' Choir: Lucy Joy Morris[11]
  • National Youth Training Choir: Greg Beardsell[12]

Former Conductors & Musical Directors
  • Greg Hallam[13]
  • Robbie Jacobs[14]
  • Esther Jones[15]
  • Dominic Ellis Peckham
  • Rachel Staunton[16]

Recordings

NYCGB Digital

NYCGB operates its own record label, NYCGB Digital, which releases music recorded by its choirs via Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other major music streaming services. The label publishes new recordings each month, which are regularly featured on playlists curated by each streaming platforms' editorial team, as well as being broadcast on national radio stations, including BBC Radio 3, Classic FM and Scala.

Notable releases include:

NMC Recordings partnership

NYCGB also partners with NMC Recordings to produce its annual Young Composers albums: a set of pieces for National Youth Choir and NYCGB Fellows composed by NYCGB Young Composers.

Other notable recordings

In addition to the recordings organised and produced by NYCGB and its partners, its choirs are regularly invited to take part in recording sessions with top orchestras and conductors. Recordings featuring NYCGB's choirs have been released on labels including EMI, Delphian, Decca, Signum, and Priory. These have included:

  • Messiah...Refreshed!, with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (recorded at Abbey Road Studios, released on Signum Classics)
  • The Great War Symphony, with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (recorded at Abbey Road Studios, released on Decca)
  • Gloria - Te Deum, with Karl Jenkins and London Symphony Orchestra (released on Decca)
  • The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, with Karl Jenkins and London Philharmonic Orchestra (released on Decca)

Notable former members

References
  1. "Our choirs". National Youth Choirs GB. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  2. "Fellowship". National Youth Choirs GB. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  3. "Young Composers". National Youth Choirs GB. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  4. "Learning & Engagement". National Youth Choirs GB. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  5. "NYCGB Alumni". National Youth Choirs GB. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  6. "BBC Proms". BBC Music Events. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  7. "Centenary Commemoration of the Battle of Amiens | Royal Air Force". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  8. "Lucy Hollins appointed new Creative Director of National Youth Choirs of Great Britain". National Youth Choirs GB. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  9. "Ben Parry | Principal Conductor". National Youth Choirs GB. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  10. "Joanna Tomlinson | Principal Conductor, National Youth Girls' Choir". National Youth Choirs GB. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  11. "Lucy Joy Morris | Principal Conductor, National Youth Boys' Choir". National Youth Choirs GB. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  12. "Greg Beardsell | Principal Conductor, National Youth Training Choir". National Youth Choirs GB. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  13. "Conductor – Greg Hallam". Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  14. "Meet our alumni". Royal Academy of Music. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  15. Tenebrae (2016-09-08). "Interview with Esther Jones | Blogs, News". Tenebrae Choir. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  16. "Meet our alumni". Royal Academy of Music. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
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