LYC EXPERIENCE
LYC Experience is our schools and communities engagement programme working closely with school children, their teachers, families and partner music hubs to establish and support singing in London’s local communities. With the arts being pushed to the margins of education policy, access is at an all time low for young people who cannot afford a good quality musical education.
LYC Experience supports teachers and staff at schools and their surrounding communities to enrich the lives of young Londoners through singing. We provide high-calibre choral singing tuition for school children and unique performance opportunities at exciting venues both in their neighbourhoods and across London.
WHO IS IT FOR?
LYC Experience exists to increase access to music for young people all across London. Our LYC Experience engagement programme works in schools and communities to offer free singing sessions to over 1,000 young people a year. The school pupils we work with are encouraged to join their local LYC choir, and we work hard to remove different types of barriers to participation: financial, travel/location and admin (e.g. filling out forms). LYC Experience aims to increase access to singing for London’s communities and families, and we work closely with music hubs and schools to enable us to deliver workshops and singing sessions in different areas.
In 2023, LYC Experience engaged with local communities in the four areas of London where LYC’s regional junior choirs rehearse: Streatham, Tottenham, Ealing and Bermondsey. We worked closely with primary schools to bring 1,100 children aged 7-11 years old to LYC’s 10th Anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
Ishani O’Connor is LYC’s Head of Engagement, responsible for LYC Experience, working closely with schools, communities and music hubs.
“I strongly believe in the power of singing which can act as a golden thread throughout a child’s life. Singing brings communities together”
REQUEST A SCHOOL WORKSHOP
LYC visits schools to run workshops and singing assemblies. If you are interested in an LYC visit to your school, please complete the form below and we will be in touch.
GET IN TOUCH
Contact Ishani to find out more about LYC Experience, or if you are interested in becoming an LYC education partner (music hubs or other music organisations)
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
FOR SCHOOLS
LYC works in partnership with primary schools to help to reinstate singing as part of the school day. We actively reach out to schools and communities in disadvantaged areas of London, and create progression routes into our choirs for young people in these areas.
We are rolling out a comprehensive plan for schools to increase access to a quality music education and performance opportunities for children of all backgrounds, working closely with primary schools across London.
FROM LYC EXPERIENCE WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS:
“It felt good to be part of a community”– Alex, Heathbrook Primary School
“It was so fun learning new songs with actions – it wakes you up!”– Sophie, Heathbrook Primary School
“The whole project was a music teacher’s dream – I really hope Mount Carmel children get the opportunity to collaborate with LYC again in the future!” – Claire, Mount Carmel Primary School teacher
FOR MUSIC HUBS
We work closely with Music Hubs to raise awareness of the musical opportunities available to young people in their local area, including membership of LYC’s regional choirs. We work in support of current singing programmes in order to give children and young people a well-rounded musical experience.
FOR COMMUNITIES
We hold Family Come & Sing Days across London during the school half term holidays. These inclusive events allow families to share in their children’s love of singing, for parents and guardians to support their children and for all generations to discover the joy of singing together.
GALLERY
WHAT'S ON
We hold events like Family Come & Sing Days and Open Rehearsals in venues local to our regional choirs which are free to everyone. Find out about our past and future events here.
JOIN LYC
We have 10 choirs for young people in school year 3 to age 23, rehearsing in six different locations across London. Auditions are free and take place several times throughout the year.
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like to find out more about anything on this page or if you are interested in working with LYC in a creative education partnership then please send us an email.
OUR PARTNERS
