Calling singers aged 9-18! Sign up now to join the National Youth Choir

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If you love singing with others, National Youth Choir is for you!

National Youth Choir runs choirs for more than 1000 enthusiastic singers aged 9 to 25 each year. We are a national organisation, and are proud that our members come from all over the UK, singing different styles of music from all over the world. Our members take part in inspirational residential courses during the school holidays, sing in exciting performances, record music tracks and videos, have a lot of fun, and become part of a huge network of young people who are passionate about making music together. 

Interested in joining one of our choirs?

This autumn we’ll be looking for new singers aged 9-18 to join our fantastic choirs. If you’re passionate about singing and want to develop your musical skills, perform a wide range of music and make new friends, we’d love to meet you! All our auditions take place online with a friendly, supportive panel who are there to help you feel relaxed and sound your best. Booking is now open, and auditions will take place at selected dates and times between 19 October and 1 November. We’ll be in touch about the outcome of auditions by December, and singers who are joining the choirs will be invited to take part in our residential singing courses in spring and summer 2025.

Find out more at our free online Q&A Discovery Events

These online sessions are for young singers, parents, teachers and music educators who want to find out what it's like to be a part of the National Youth Choir. You will get the chance to chat to staff who run our residential courses, see a typical 'day-in-the-life' of a choir member, and find out what to expect from our friendly auditions process.

Who is National Youth Choir for?

• We are looking for enthusiastic singers of all genders and from all backgrounds, whatever your preferred musical style.  
• Boys and non-binary young people undergoing voice change are encouraged to audition, and will be offered specialist support by National Youth Choir vocal experts.  
• We particularly encourage applications from young people whose backgrounds are currently under-represented in choral music. This includes young people from Black, Asian & global majority backgrounds, and Disabled musicians.  
• All singers must be a British citizen or a resident of the UK at the time of application. 
• This round of auditions in autumn 2024 is for singers in school years 5-13 (England & Wales), P5-S6 (Scotland) or P6-Y14 (Northern Ireland). View our Age Guidance document to work out which choir is right for you.

What will I get out of taking part?

National Youth Choir singers are offered the very best choral training possible. This includes unbeatable opportunities to develop skills in singing, performance, recording, teamwork, and to grow in confidence and aspiration. The National Youth Choir community is a place where everyone belongs, and offers the opportunity to make life-long friends with other young people who love singing just as much as you do. Here's what our singers have to say about taking part: 

• "It's a lot of fun to be part of a big community of people who are just like you"
• "It feels like a family"
• "The food on the course is really nice, especially breakfast!"
• "National Youth Choir has become part of my identity. It's something I'm really proud of"
• "All the teachers really help you understand what you have to do to become a better singer"
• "It's the best experience I've ever had and it's the best thing I've ever done"

National Youth Choir (9-15 Years)

National Youth Choir (15-18 Years)

What does being in the choir involve?

Choir members are invited to take part in up to two residential courses per year, which take place around the UK in the spring and summer holidays. Here are the dates for our courses for 9-18s in 2025:

Spring 2025

• For 9-15s: 3 separate courses will run on different sites between 15-19 April (1 for male and non-binary singers, 2 for female and non-binary singers), coming together for a joint concert 
• For 15-18s: 14-21 April in Suffolk

Summer 2025

• For 9-15s: some 9-15s will have a choice of two courses
  • 29 July- 2 August in Rutland - for female, male and non-binary singers
  • 20-24 August in Suffolk - for female and non-binary singers only
• For 15-18s: all singers aged 15-18 will have a choice of two courses
  • 10-17 August in Rutland
  • 16-23 August in Yorkshire

If a choir member does not attend at least one course a year, they will be asked to re-audition in the autumn if they want to take part the following year.

Will it cost me anything?

• All National Youth Choir (9-15 Years) & (15-18 Years) activities are subsidised by the fundraising we do as a charity, but we still need some additional financial input from singers in order to deliver our annual programme of events. 
• Financial Assistance is available to all members and is offered on a sliding scale based on eligibility. Financial Assistance can cover up to 100% of participation costs as well as provide additional support with things like travel expenses. 

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

How do I join the choir?

• To join the choir, you will need to do a short, informal online audition with members of our friendly music team.  
• We ask all singers to prepare an unaccompanied song to sing at their audition. To find out exactly what to expect from this experience, please visit our page: How to Prepare
• Please let us know about any access needs in advance of your audition and we will do our best to accommodate them. 

Book your audition now

• Auditions can be booked by parents, carers or guardians until 6pm on Sunday 13 October, with the auditions themselves taking place at selected dates and times between 19 October and 1 November.
• Read our step-by-step guide to booking auditions via My NYCGB

BOOK AUDITION slot NOW

We look forward to meeting you, and singing with you soon!  

Got questions?

If you have any questions about signing up for an audition, what you can expect from the online audition or what residential courses are like, please contact Amanda on [email protected] or 0191 249 3625