LONDON YOUTH CHOIR
London Youth Choir is our senior mixed voice choir for young people from across London in school year 11 to age 23. Working across a wide-ranging repertoire encompassing many styles, cultures and languages, London Youth Choir members also receive musicianship training to improve their score-reading, listening and ensemble skills, and enjoy performance opportunities from recording sessions to arena concerts.
London Youth Choir is for young people in school year 11 to age 23 who live anywhere in London.
You don’t need to have any previous experience of singing, or of singing in choirs or groups. And if you do sing already, it doesn’t matter what style you sing in, or what music you like to sing: there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ singer for a choir, and we sing all sorts of music!
To join London Youth Choir you first need to audition. That might sound scary, but we make a big effort to ensure that the experience is friendly and supportive. You’ll need to sing a song to us – in any genre or style, unaccompanied or with an accompaniment or backing track – and we’ll also chat to you about your song and what your musical aspirations are.
To find out all about auditioning, visit the Join LYC page.
As a member of London Youth Choir you will meet every Monday during term-time for rehearsal.
Rehearsals are from 7.30-8.45pm and are held in central London near St Paul’s cathedral. At rehearsals you’ll be offered a broad and exciting programme of repertoire to explore, ranging across styles, musical traditions and languages.
There are also extended opportunities through LYC’s partnerships with Tenebrae, The Sixteen and the London Philharmonic Choir.
As with all LYC choirs, you will also get to take part in social activities and make new friends.
Other London Youth Choir membership benefits include your LYC t-shirt, all your music for the term, and access to our secure online members zone, MyLYC.
Finance should not be a barrier to participation in LYC.
We offer financial assistance to help with membership fees. You can find out more and apply via our secure online members zone, MyLYC, which we’ll give you access to when you join.
The annual membership fee for all LYC choirs is £300. This can be paid as a single sum or by monthly direct debit (eight payments of £37.50). All the information about how to pay is in our secure online members zone, MyLYC.
There is so much to get out of being a member of London Youth Choir: vocal and musical skills and training, experience of concerts, recordings and music videos, social activities and amazing friendships – but don’t take it from us! Watch this video to hear from LYC members.
ASK AWAY!
If you’ve got any questions about London Youth Choir, we’ve almost certainly got the answers! Drop us an email (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm) and we’ll be happy to help.
London Youth Choir - past performance highlights
- Premiering Cecilia McDowall’s new piece, Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo, at Cadogan Hall
- Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony with the London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Jurowski;
- ABCD Choral Leaders’ Festival in Birmingham;
- Royal British Legion’s Annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen;
- Premiering a major new choral commission, The Great War Symphony, by Patrick Hawes with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra;
- Britten’s War Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms;
- Haydn’s Creation in the Brandenburg Festival at St Martin-in-the-Fields;
- The Mayor of London’s Carol Service at Southwark Cathedral;
- Performing with Ellie Goulding at Wembley Arena;
- Backing the Rolling Stones at Glastonbury;
- …and many performances at the Royal Albert Hall for their My Great Orchestral Adventure shows.
RACHEL STAUNTON
Artistic Director
Rachel Staunton co-founded LYC in 2012 with Suzi Digby. Having gained a first-class honours degree in music at Royal Holloway, University of London, Rachel continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating with numerous awards and an LRAM in Choral Conducting.
Rachel usually conducts London Youth Choir, LYC Cambiata Girls and LYC South East, but is currently taking a break from conducting and will return in 2024.
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She held the post of Vocal Director for In Harmony Opera North (Classic FM’s Music Education Project of the Year 2014) and spent several years establishing the Opera North Children’s Chorus. Rachel has also worked as a conductor with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain for over a decade.
In 2014, Rachel was made Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, in recognition of her contribution to choral music and work with young people. She is passionate about using choral music to inspire young people from all backgrounds and dedicates her career to this mission.
MATTHEW QUINN
Conductor (LYC Chamber Choir, London Youth Choir)
Matthew Quinn is a Northern Irish conductor, composer and singer who is quickly developing a reputation for his exciting and dynamic approach to his music making. Working across the UK and Ireland, Matthew has conducted a range of high-quality ensembles such as the chorus and orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera, Chamber Choir Ireland, Cappella Caeciliana, Myriad Chamber Choir, Crouch End Festival Chorus, Genesis Sixteen, and Manchester Philharmonic Choir. He has recently made professional debuts with the Ulster Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
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Matthew has held young artist positions as a conductor at Northern Ireland Opera, The Sixteen, and Crouch End Festival Chorus, and has studied with illustrious conductors such as Sir Harry Christophers, Eamonn Dougan, and David Temple MBE. He is currently the musical director of Northern Ireland Opera’s chorus development programme.
ROBERT BROOKS
Conductor (LYC Cambiata Girls), Musicianship Tutor (London Youth Choir)
Robert Brooks is a conductor, baritone, and composer based in London. His first music
lessons were at the Junior Guildhall, before he became a chorister in the choir of New
College, Oxford. His music studies took him to The University of Manchester, where he
specialised in singing and composition. He also conducted the University’s chamber choir Ad
Solem, and was a member of the Genesis Sixteen choral program.
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After graduating, Robert directed several ensembles and appeared frequently as a soloist and recitalist. He was selected for the National Youth Choir’s Fellowship Scheme, and works
regularly for NYCGB as a conductor and arranger.
OUR PARTNER – CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL
London Youth Choir is made possible through the generous in-kind support of City of London School.
