News
Registration Closes FRIDAY!
Don't forget to return your Registration Forms for the Summer Course by THIS FRIDAY 18th May. NB - due to demand for places there is no guarantee that Members who have registered by this date will be offered a place. Registration forms are available on our website and can be scanned and emailed to office@nycgb.net if you don't trust the post!
Young Singers aged 3-22 perform to a packed Royal Albert Hall
On Easter Monday a packed Royal Albert Hall reverberated to the sound of over 1,400 young voices from National Youth Choirs of GB and community choirs from around the UK.
The massed choirs, comprising over 700 young singers from the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB) and a further 700 - even younger - singers from children’s community choirs across the nation, performed a unique programme of choral music from around the world, based on “Worldsong”, by NYCGB’s Artistic Director Mike Brewer. “Worldsong” consists of five songs from different parts of the world, which are all sung together in a grand finale. Guest artists included the South Asian Youth Orchestra SAMYO, Living Rhythms from Birmingham and the Ashford Guitar Ensemble. The programme also featured the world premier of a specially commissioned work by acclaimed composer Sir John Tavener who was present at the event. The Senior, Training and Junior choirs of NYCGB sang their individual programmes, and the whole event culminated in all 1400 singing with guest artist and former NYC member Louise Marshall.
Many messages of thanks were sent to NYCGB following the Easter Course; below are some of them:
“……The Children really loved the grandeur of the event, and the wonderful venue….. To expose them to that level of excellence, when most of them have never gone beyond our home town, was an eye opening experience for them and lots of them are talking about things they would never have considered before. ……Some of the parents had never been to London before….When is the next one!!!?” Conductor of one of the guest children’s choirs.
"My daughter X (12) recently took part in Worldsong at The Royal Albert Hall on Easter Monday as a member of her school choir. She had a fantastic time and is very keen to audition for the National Youth Choir as soon as she possibly can.” Parent of one of the guest childrens’ choir members
“…..We were completely blown away by last night's concert. The singing was absolutely spellbinding - the singers sounded so unified and the sound was so beautiful that I was completely carried away. Perhaps most special of all was to hear such beautiful and varied world music sung by the young - it was a special privilege…..” Audience member
“The on-stage and behind the scenes organisation was most impressive and the applause of the singers everyone who has supported them spoke volumes. Our son loves being part of the NYCGB and we hope he will continue to love singing all his life, as we do.” Parent of Boys’ Choir Member
“…..what a concert it was. We are so proud and happy that our daughter was given the opportunity to be part of this fantastic evening. She thoroughly enjoyed her first week with the NYCGB in Sevenoaks and she praised all the staff so highly….” Parent of a member of Training Choir
“Thank you ALL at NYCGB for allowing X to take part in THE most AMAZING concert yesterday. I cried for most of it as it was so beautiful and moving. An evening that will be remembered always.” Parent of a member of National Youth Choir
“How lovely to hear the wonderful premiere of the Taverner works as well; such a treat. X thoroughly enjoyed her first girls choir course and was on such a high from the concert; an amazing privilege to do that age 13.” Parent of a member of Girls’ Choir
“X had a fabulous time on the main NYC course, he's still high as a kite! He's so highly motivated now that he's going in to school today to ask if he can help run their junior choirs…….” Parent of a member of National Youth Choir
“….X really enjoyed the week in Sevenoaks, and said that all the staff were really fantastic. She has made several new friends that she was very sad to say goodbye to…..” Parent of a member of Training Choir
“….When I asked her on the way home what was the best bit of the course my daughter said "All of it-being with people who love singing as much as I do…."” Parent of a member of Girls’ Choir
“It was magnificent! We are so proud our daughter is part of this wonderful organisation. She is very keen to do the summer course and work her way up the ranks as time goes on. We are sure that she will get so very much from being in the choir. All our friends are so keen to come and see her in it too. Many thanks.” Parent of a member of Girls’ Choir
“….thank you all for the marvellous courses and concert at the Albert Hall last week. My son had a wonderful time. He now wants to audition for the main choir for next season!” Parent of a member of Training Choir
“…..Our daughter hasn`t stopped talking about what a brilliant time she had, how lovely all the staff were, and how delicious the food was and how fantastic the singing teachers were etc etc ...needless to say she is looking forward to the summer course!.....” Parent of a member of Girls’ Choir
For those of you who missed it, or want to see it again, order your DVD now at http://www.bsfv.co.uk/musicshop DVD's are due to be ready for distribution by late May/early June.
Laudibus win Grammy Award
Laudibus disc 'Light and Gold' took home a Grammy in the coveted awards ceremony in LA. Recorded by Decca with the Eric Whitacre Singers, the disc took home the 'Best Choral Recording' title, fending off stiff competition from discs by fellow Brits Paul Hillier and Stephen Layton.
Huge congratulations to the members of Laudibus, Mike Brewer and, of course, our good friend Eric Whitacre.
See the video of Eric' acceptance speech here.
Choirgirl of the Year!
Ella Rainbird-Early, from Training Choir North, has won the Choirgirl of the Year competition. Ella, who sings at Coventry Cathedral and attends the Birmingham Junior Conservatoire, participated in the Grand Final which took place on Monday 24 October at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London; the show was broadcast on Sunday 6 November at 8.00pm on Radio 2. As a finale to the evening’s event, the new Radio 2 Young Choristers sang a specially arranged version of the Christmas carol – In the Bleak Midwinter – with special guest Joe McElderry, the former X Factor and Popstar to Operastar winner.
She sang in several BBC programmes over the Christmas period and will be appearing on Songs of Praise on the 22nd January. Huge congratulations to Ella from all at NYCGB!
Baltic Disc 'Hidden Gem' of 2011
Fiona Maddocks and Nicholas Kenyon list NYC's Songs of the Baltic as a 'Hidden Gem of 2011'. Click here.
NYC and Mahler at the Proms
Click READ MORE to see the reviews or watch a clip from this amazing concert with the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra and Gustavo Dudamel.
Click to read some fantastic reviews. Watch the finale on youtube here.
