Would you like to have fun singing together as a family? London Youth Choirs are holding a FREE half-term singing workshop on Thursday 30 May for young people age 7-11 and their families – younger siblings also welcome! The session will be friendly and informal, and refreshments will be provided. 

WHEN: 10.30am-12pm on Thursday 31st May
WHERE: City Hope Church, Drummond Road, Bermondsey, SE16 2JY

To sign up & find out more: visit our website at https://www.londonyouthchoirs.com/free-family-come-sing-in-bermondsey/

In Autumn 2024 English National Opera (ENO) will be presenting a new production of Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw.

ENO are looking for two boys to perform Miles, and two girls to perform Flora. All children must be over the age of 9 and have unbroken voices. These are solo roles but double cast; the children will be divided into teams of two. While one team performs the other will cover them from within the theatre. The children will need to be at the theatre for all rehearsals and performances.

CRITERIA

Age: 9+
Appearance: Both Miles & Flora need to look very young and ideally be no taller than 5ft
Ability: Both roles are solo principal roles, pivotal to the drama. They both require a very high musical standard and good acting ability. Some stage experience would be preferable; musical and dramatic confidence is essential.
Audition information: For the audition you will need to sing an extract from the Turn of The Screw: Go to sleep, my dolly dear (Flora) or Malo, malo (Miles). (Click on the song titles to access the scores)

For full information about requirements, including dates, please click here.

To apply to audition, please complete this Application Form and email it to Hebe Elms (email address in information document) by midnight on Sunday 12th May.

Applications for the 2024-25 Genesis Sixteen Conducting Scholar are now open.

The scholarship is fully funded and offers young conductors the opportunity to be mentored by conductor Harry Christophers and associate conductor Eamonn Dougan, as well as the chance to work with some of the best young ensemble singers in the country. The scholar is given the chance to observe each course, sing with the choir, lead their own rehearsals, and conduct several pieces in performances throughout the year, including for BBC Radio 3 Broadcast.

This is a really fantastic programme for those who are interested in pursuing conducting as a career – you will get to work with some really excellent musicians and learn not only about conducting and rehearsal technqiue, but about being a professional musician.

You can find out more information here, including how to apply – please note you will need video footage of you conducting two pieces: https://thesixteen.com/genesis-sixteen/conducting-scholar-applications/

The application deadline is 5pm on Monday 13 May 2024

The Charles Wood Music Festival and Summer School is an annual event taking place every August in Armagh.  At the centre of the Festival is a week-long residential course for aspiring professional choral singers.  Led by renowned choral director David Hill (former BBC Singers conductor and conductor of The Bach Choir) and organist Philip Scriven, it is an opportunity for young singers to develop their vocal technique, musicianship and ensemble skills under top industry professionals.

You will cover a large amount of repertoire and there are several opportunities to perform in the stunning surroundings of both Armagh cathedrals. Highlights this year include a BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong broadcast, a BBC Radio Ulster Morning Service broadcast, vocal coaching from Paul Farrington, a visit from composer Errollyn Wallen, a special gala concert and an outdoor Proms event.  This year the choir will be made up of 20 singers, eight of whom are experienced professional singers, who will also provide mentoring for the participants.

The dates for the 2024 course are 11th – 18th August inclusive. They are looking for singers aged at Grade 8 standard or above, with a good level of sight reading and previous experience singing in a choir.  The course is £400 inclusive of all food, tuition, and accommodation for the week.

The overall deadline is 24th May and applications can be made online here: https://www.charleswoodsummerschool.org/charles-wood-singers

Stile Antico have announced their fifth Stile Antico Youth Consort course, to be held in London between 30th August and 1st September 2024.

This course is intended for singers who already have experience of choral singing, and who are competent sight-readers. The suggested age range is 16-22, but applications from singers outside this age range will also be considered. The number of participants is limited to approximately twenty-four to ensure a fulfilling and rewarding experience. The course will focus on developing ensemble skills, collaborative music-making, and the historical context of the repertoire. Participants will also be given the opportunity to work in smaller, one-to-a-part groups to further develop their consort singing skills.

The course is non-residential and will be held at More House School in Knightsbridge.

The cost is £180 before 31 May (£200 after), but finance should not be a barrier to anyone wishing to attend, and bursaries are available – please contact [email protected] to discuss financial assistance.

Visit the Stile Antico website to find out more

The Royal Opera House’s Youth Opera programmes provide children aged 7 to 13 with rigorous music and drama training, creative projects and the chance to perform in world leading opera productions with The Royal Opera.

ROH Youth Opera is divided into two strands:

ROH Young Voices (Ages 7-8)
ROH Young Voices is a singing programme for 7-8 year olds, developing participants’ vocal control, musical literacy and performing skills. As well as performing at concerts and other events at The Royal Opera House, participants gain a grounding in the skills required to progress into the older ensemble, the ROH Youth Opera Company.

ROH Youth Opera Company (Ages 9-13)
ROH Youth Opera Company is the ROH’s in-house chorus of 9 to 13 year olds. They offer participants all-round training in the performing arts, covering vocal technique, language coaching, acting and stage craft, musical literacy and creative processes for developing new work. The ROH YOC also has the opportunity to audition for the children’s chorus in one Royal Opera Company production per season.

To find out more and to apply, visit https://www.roh.org.uk/learning/young-people/youth-opera-company

The application deadline is midday Monday 10 June

Are you interested in conducting but don’t really know what it involves?

The National Children’s Choir of Great Britain offers musicians the chance to observe their conductors on their residential courses, to see what it’s like being a conductor of a choir of young people. You will get to learn about planning rehearsals, children’s music education and vocal health, and how to work with children and young people.

The programme is designed for people at the beginning of their choral conducting journey; for example, if you are on a gap year and thinking about conducting in the future, or are doing a music degree but not doing any conducting.

Visit the National Children’s Choir website to find out more.

The Rodolfus Foundation runs singing courses every year for young people who love to sing in choirs. There are no auditions – all you need is enthusiasm!

The courses are a chance to learn about singing in choirs to a high standard with some of the world’s leading conductors. You will also learn to sing sacred choral services. There is a generous bursary scheme available.

For more information, visit https://www.therodolfusfoundation.org.uk/choral-courses-2024

Gabrieli Roar have launched their summer residential project or 2024: Verdi’s Requiem! The course will take place at Gresham’s School, Norfolk, from the 19th-24th July 2024 and will culminate in a performance at Ely Cathedral.

The course is for singers age 14-18, and as well as learning the Verdi Requiem you will take part in musicianship sessions and vocal masterclasses, as well as learn some other new pieces.

The course costs £275 per singer, but partial and full bursaries are available wherever necessary. Finance should not be a barrier to participation.

Visit the Gabrieli Roar website to find out more!

If you’re interested in attending, fill in the ‘Expression of interest form for individuals’ on the page linked above (the second form, not the first one).

Age 16-25? Become part of a community of creatives who are shaping the future of music in London.

Wired4Music is a netowrk of Londoners aged 16-25, all interested in music. From music makers and radio producers to techies and budding A&Rs (Artist and Repertoire workers), Wired4Music connects people from all over London.

They run learning and network events, provide work experience, give you opportunities to learn from experts, provide chances to share your music and find performance opportunities, and connect you with other musicians, artists and producers in London. If you’re thinking about a career in music and looking to build up some experience and contacts, and find out where to start, Wired4Music is a great organisation to join! You can be as involved as you like.

It’s free to sign up – just head to https://www.wired4music.co.uk/

Are you interested in attending more concerts and events this year? 

Check out the CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust website, where you can find FREE tickets to a range of concerts to those aged 8 to 25 years old (inclusive), as part of their ticket scheme. These concerts take place in music clubs, societies and festivals, located all throughout the country.

CURRENT AVAILABLE CONCERT TICKETS

CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust aims to bring chamber music to young people, with the aim of developing the next generation of music lovers and players. By working with a variety of concert promoters, they are able to cover the cost of young people’s admission to music concerts, making it more accessible.

More information: http://www.cavatina.net/concerts.html