Musical Directors
Carl Browning
Hon. Secretary
Carl Browning inherited the British Youth Choir from his predecessor David Clover when he was appointed Music Adviser to the City of Sheffield in October 1979. Within a few months he brokered the foundation of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain (NYC) after guidance from his Chief Education Officer, Michael Harrison and negotiations with Sir David Willcocks, Principal of London’s Royal College of Music. Retiring from Sheffield in the 90s Carl emigrated to New Zealand where he started the Nelson Music Festival in 2001.
Since its foundation the Musical Director of NYC has been Mike Brewer. Carl and Mike have steered these and other youth choral units both nationally and internationally with vision and musical expertise and presently celebrate 40 years as friends and colleagues together. The Choir’s concerts have been wide ranging and include ten Albert Hall appearances, two with the National Youth Orchestra, three FA Cup Final appearances and many concerts abroad. They have performed in Canada and North America (six visits), Australia (four including the outback) and New Zealand (four), The Cook Islands (two), South Africa, Honolulu (three), Samoa and Singapore (two). A recent tour of Central Europe was completed with the full assistance of a professional agency. All previous overseas tours had been organised exclusively and single handedly by Carl. In August 2006 Mike conducted the European tour with the very able assistance of Greg Beardsell, now director of the Training Choir, Mike’s wife Sandra and with Carl and Inga Browning. Mark Anyan, the choir manager, played a major role as general factotum.
Both directors (Carl and Mike) have spent a lot of time living and working in New Zealand and Carl holds dual citizenship. He returns to England every year to oversee the Choir’s AGM and to keep in touch with staff and an ever changing choir membership. In August 2007 he attended concerts in Coventry and Gloucester Cathedrals.
In 2008 NYC celebrated its 25th Anniversary giving a highly acclaimed and stunning concert in the Birmingham Symphony Hall. The directors are now looking forward to organising the next overseas tour in July/August 2009 which is likely to include the West Coast of North America and further afield.
