National Youth Choir have made two exciting new appointments to their creative team.

Matthew Quinn will take up the position of Principal Conductor of National Youth Choir (15-18 Years), while Carris Jones will step into the role of Head of Creative Programmes.

Matthew completes the new-look line up of conductors for National Youth Choir, joining the Principal Conductors of the 18-25 and 9-15 choirs, Nic Chalmers and Lynsey Callaghan. They will work alongside Creative Director Lucy Hollins and Carris Jones to develop the new creative vision for National Youth Choir.

Lucy Hollins said: “I am thrilled to welcome these two fantastic musicians and educators to the National Youth Choir team. Both Carris and Matthew bring with them a wealth of experience, enthusiasm for creative collaboration, and an unsurpassed understanding of how to inspire and nurture young singers. I am hugely excited about the opportunities their appointments create, and am looking forward to working with them and the rest of our fantastic team to further develop our choirs and programmes for all young people.”

Matthew Quinn is a versatile Conductor from Belfast, Northern Ireland, who has a reputation for his exciting and dynamic approach to his music making. He is currently Chorus Director of English National Opera, Musical Director of Cappella Caeciliana, and Musical Director of London Youth Chamber Choir.

Matthew has also worked with Chamber Choir Ireland, Northern Ireland Opera, Opera Collective Ireland/Academy für Alte Musik Berlin, the Ulster Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and the Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble.

During the current season, Matthew will be performing at the BBC Proms and at the Bridgewater Hall, making his debut with Sonoro and the BBC Singers, and conduct a large-scale multimedia performance of Gavin Bryar’s ‘The Sinking of the Titanic’ at Titanic Belfast.

Comfortable across a wide range of choral, orchestral, and operatic repertoire, Matthew enjoys collaborations across many musical styles and genres and is an advocate of new music.

Matthew said: "I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as Principal Conductor of the National Youth Choir (15-18 Years). National Youth Choir is world-renowned for its commitment to creativity, inclusivity and excellence in choral music for all young people, and to be entrusted with the musical leadership of this next generation of singers is a huge honour and a privilege. The choir’s enthusiasm, coupled with the high level of their performances, is infectious, and I’m looking forward to working with the young people and the rest of the team to continue to innovate, inspire, and deliver incredible musical experiences for the young people and for audiences."

Carris Jones joined the Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral in 2017 - the first female Vicar Choral to be appointed in its one-thousand-year history. Since joining, she has worked for the introduction of girl choristers into the Cathedral’s world-famous choir, marshalling her musical and non-musical skills in the cause of widening access to choral music. 

She is also in demand as an expert on choral music and women in church music, making recent appearances on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Radio 3’s In Tune.

Prior to becoming a full-time musician in 2012, Carris worked in the Houses of Parliament as a researcher and speechwriter, and for the Civil Service in various project management roles.

Carris said: "I am so thrilled to be joining the team at the National Youth Choir as Head of Creative Programmes. Widening access to top level music for all young people is a real passion of mine, and I look forward to working with Lucy Hollins and the whole National Youth Choir community to ensure that our choirs not only achieve amazing musical results but also provide spaces where all can feel that they belong. At a difficult time for the arts, I am particularly excited to work with the fantastic Emerging Professional Artists, helping them to develop the skills needed to thrive in the industry."

Carris takes up her post in May, while Matthew will support 9-18 auditions in the autumn and lead his first residential course in spring 2026.