Tuesday 2 July 2013

London Youth Choir

London Youth Choir logo
The London Youth Choir is a new venture, founded in September 2012 by Suzi Digby OBE and Rachel Staunton. The idea is to provide London’s young singers with a world class choral education and there are currently 160 young singers rehearsing weekly in a pyramid of five choirs, London Youth Choir, London Youth Girls’ Choir, London Youth Boys’ Choir, London Youth Training Choir, and London Youth Chamber Choir. The London Youth Choir performed alongside the Rolling Stones at Glastonbury on 29 June and will be again appearing with them in Hyde Park on 6 and 13 July 2013.

Last night, 1 July 2013, we heard a private recital by the London Youth Choir Choral Scholars, 7 young singers aged 18 to 21 who were directed by Suzi Digby and Rachel Staunton in a highly challenging and impressively performed programme.

They opened with a traditional African song and the music ranged from Purcell's Hear my Prayer through Pearsall's Lay a Garland to Tippett's Spirituals from a Child of our Time and Britten's Hymn to St. Cecilia. We were also treated to a lively arrangements of Bach and a new piece written for the choir by Toby Young inspired by Britten's Friday Afternoons. This piece is one of group commissioned by the choir which they will be performing on Britten's birthday this year. The young singers gave fine performances of the taxing programme and displayed some lovely solo singing as well.

The programme was a fund raiser, to help garner funds for the choir's Bursary Fund to help young people who are in need of financial help.  The fees are heavily subsidised but the choir wants to be as inclusive as possible (their aim is to have children from all of the London boroughs), and as their membership grows so does their need for support. Further information from the London Youth Choir website.

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