History
In 1983 the decision was taken by Mike Brewer and Carl Browning that the British Youth Choir should be re-invented in line with other National Youth ensembles.
The intention was to mould the best young voices throughout the land into a Choir that could rival the very best in the world - and so the National Youth Choir of Great Britain was born. At the heart of the concept would be development of the promising vocal technique shown by young people aged between 16 and 21 at audition. This, together with Mike Brewer's unique ability to blend voices and his mastery of choral technique resulted in the National Youth Choir (later often referred to as "main choir") as it can be heard today.
In 1992 the National Youth Chamber Choir came into being. It comprises sixteen of the very best singers from NYC. Subsequently named "Laudibus" this choir performs professionally throughout the the UK and abroad.
By the early nineties it was becoming apparent that not only were there many more young people auditioning than could be accepted in to the choir, but that many of them were nearly, but not quite ready to join the choir. Also, approaches had been made to the choir by parents and teachers of youngsters below the requisite age of 16. At a time when singing in schools was declining it was agreed that the National Youth Training Choir for singers aged between 13 and 18 should be formed.
In 1995 sixty singers met for the inaugural NYTC course. As a result of the expert vocal training each member receives on every Course she/he attends, many NYTC members move into the main Choir to fill the places reluctantly vacated as singers attain the age of 22.
As will be seen on visiting the NYTC pages the outstanding success of this venture has led, as of 2008, to the splitting of the Training Choir into two (North and South) which has resulted in two 100-strong choirs.
2002 saw the creation of the National Youth Junior Choirs which allow for girls to audition from the age of 11 and boys from the age of 9. Adhering to the principles of excellence for which the organisation is noted, even more emphasis is paid to the teaching of musicianship whilst a greater staff to member ratio ensures pastoral care is at the core of every NYJC course. The immediate success of this development meant not only the creation of two girls' choirs (North and South) but a dedicated boys' choir which could nurture the more specialist needs that come with a changing voice.
The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain now enjoy an active membership in excess of 700 singers and organise no less than 12 residential courses each year. Each course is staffed by handpicked conductors, voice coaches and pastoral carers. NYCGB prides itself on the training of young leaders, and all assistant staff on Junior and Training Choir courses are present or former members of the senior choir. They work alongside distinguished conductors and voice teachers together with management and pastoral staff to help create NYCGB's unique family atmosphere which values focused rehearsal and happy social life, and ensures the quality of performance which characterises all the NYCGB choirs.
Having celebrated the first 25 years of NYCGB in a grand gala in Birmingham's Symphony Hall in April 2008, we now look forward with excitement to the next quarter century.