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Patrick Barrett is a conductor specialising in choral music and opera. He is currently Chorus Director of the RSNO Youth Choruses, the Royal Opera House Youth Opera Company, the Irish Youth Choir (14-17 years), and the  award-winning Farnham Youth Choirs.

Recent highlights include conducting the RSNO Youth Chorus in performances with Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Benjamin Grosvenor, and Nicola Benedetti, as well as preparing them for the recording of Gaspard’s Christmas by Jonathan Dove. Patrick also led Farnham Youth Choir to two gold medals at the World Choir Games 2024 in New Zealand. He has premièred new works by Errolyn Wallen, Jonathan Brigg, Emma O’Halloran, and DJ R.Kitt, and is a regular guest conductor with the National Youth Choir (9-15 Years).

Patrick’s commitment to youth choral music extends to preparing choruses for the Edinburgh International Festival, and for the Dunedin Consort, where his work often features in major international performances. As a dedicated music educator, Patrick has worked with organisations including The Sixteen, BBC Singers, Wigmore Hall, and Aldeburgh Young Musicians, and has spoken at the Post Primary Music Teachers Association in Ireland.

In opera, Patrick collaborates with leading UK companies such as the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, and Garsington Opera, where he prepares youth choruses for main stage productions and world premières, including Carmen under Antonello Manacorda and Otello under Sir Antonio Pappano. Previously, he was the conductor of the University of Birmingham’s Upper Voices Choir, University of Reading Chamber Choir and Brockham Choral Society.

I’m so delighted to be working with the talented singers of National Youth Choirs. It’s going to be so fun and I just can’t wait to get started!