After a hugely successful summer season, we would like to thank and celebrate three Principal Conductors, who have come to the end of their five-year contracts and will be finishing in their current roles at the end of September.

Greg Beardsell will step down as Principal Conductor of National Youth Choir (15-18 Years)

Greg’s involvement with the National Youth Choir spans 30 years, having been a choir member and then section leader in the late 90s. Over the last 20 years, his roles have also included Associate Director and Deputy Artistic Director. He has conducted National Youth Choir ensembles of all ages, and specialised in working with our older teenage participants.

Greg has led the way in developing innovative choral collaborations and new commissions, with highlights including leading the International Youth Choir Festival in 2017; working with beatboxer SK Shlomo to create She Lost My Crossed Heart; supporting development of five new commissions by our graduate Young Composers; and creating the staged performance of Eric Whitacre’s Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machines at the National Youth Choir’s 40th anniversary concert in 2023. Greg was also instrumental in developing early engagement work, including partnerships in Nottinghamshire, Cornwall and Cumbria.

Joanna Tomlinson will step down as Principal Conductor of National Youth Choir (9-15 Years)

Having previously been a Course Conductor for our residential courses, Joanna joined us as Principal Conductor in autumn 2019, working with the National Youth Girls’ Choir for the first time online in spring 2020!

During her five years as Principal Conductor, Joanna premiered three new commissions including A Short Story of Falling by Joanna Marsh, which was nominated for an Ivor Novello award. Alongside her Principal Conductor role, she has also worked with our older participants, including preparing the National Youth Choir (18-25 Years) for the BBC Proms in 2022, and conducting the National Youth Chamber Choir. She has worked on delivery of our Emerging Professional Artists schemes and our Learning and Engagement programmes in schools and communities.

Lucy Joy Morris ends her term as Principal Conductor of National Youth Choir (9-15 Years)

Lucy Joy has held a number of conducting roles with the National Youth Choir, including as Assistant Conductor for the National Youth Training Choir, and Conductor of the National Youth Boys’ Choir, before becoming Principal Conductor for the Boys’ Choir in 2019.

During her time as Principal Conductor, highlights include premiering the new commission I Am. We Are. by Oliver Tarney, and Just Being ME by Ben Parry (alongside Joanna Tomlinson). Lucy Joy has conducted the National Youth Choir (18-25 Years) for Carols at the Royal Albert Hall, and the National Youth Chamber Choir at the New Music Biennial festival. She has also delivered work as part of our Learning and Engagement programme.

Between them, our Principal Conductors have inspired and supported many thousands of young singers over the last five years – including providing innovative singing opportunities online during the pandemic and leading the way in returning to live singing in 2021.

“We are hugely grateful to Greg, Joanna and Lucy Joy for the significant contributions they’ve each made to the National Youth Choir and for their passion and dedication to providing young people with outstanding singing opportunities and innovative choral training, especially during the enormous challenges of the pandemic. We consider ourselves fortunate to have been able to work with these choral leaders of the highest calibre and look forward to continuing relationships in the future.” - David Roper, Chair

“A National Youth Choir summer is always full of celebration; we celebrate the joy of singing, young people pursuing their passion and developing their potential, catching up with old friends and making new ones, fantastic performances, and our community coming together to do what we love doing best. 

This summer we have celebrated the incredible work of our Principal Conductors, Lucy Joy Morris, Jo Tomlinson and Greg Beardsell, as their current roles with National Youth Choir come to a close. This wonderful trio has given immeasurable amounts of expertise and dedication to the organisation over very many years; in doing so, they have changed the lives of many hundreds of young people, and given them a lifelong love of singing. Lucy Joy, Jo and Greg have been wonderful teachers, mentors, colleagues and friends to many, and we hope very much that they will remain a central part of the National Youth Choir family. Hugest thanks from us all.” - Lucy Hollins, Creative Director

National Youth Choir will announce the appointment of a new Principal Conductor of National Youth Choir (9-15 Years) in the autumn, and will be undertaking a selection process for a new Principal Conductor of National Youth Choir (15-18 Years) in 2025.