“By Royal Command”

Published 8 November 2022

London Youth Choirs are honoured to announce their appearance as part of the 2022 Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall and on ITV.

LYC singers will join Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Gary Barlow and LYC Honorary Patron Gareth Malone to perform Lloyd Webber and Barlow’s “Sing”, first performed at the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Concert for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The star-studded performance, hosted by comedian Lee Mack, will be held at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 1st December in the presence of members of the Royal Family, and screened by ITV later in December.

The musical line-up includes Ellie Goulding, Nile Rogers & Chic, George Ezra, Sam Ryder and Becky Hill; further confirmed stars include Cirque du Soleil and the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2022, comedian Axel Blake.

The Royal Variety Performance is run by the Royal Variety Charity, established in 1908 to support former stage performers. The first Royal Variety Performance was given to King George V and Queen Mary in 1912, becoming an annual event in 1921.

The list of artists to have performed at the Royal Variety Performance reads like a Who’s Who of 20th and 21st century entertainment and includes Edward Elgar, The Beatles, Pavarotti, Laurel and Hardy, Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly, Take That, The Muppets, Kiri Te Kanawa, Vera Lynn, John Gielgud, Diana Ross, Elton John, and Lionel Richie.

LYC Artistic Director Rachel Staunton said:

“Everyone at LYC is deeply honoured to have received this invitation for our young people to appear as part of the Royal Variety Performance. It promises to be an unforgettable night for all of them, and we know that they will shine, We are also honoured to be taking the stage alongside Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gary Barlow – and especially proud that we get to appear with Gareth Malone, who is LYC’s Honorary Patron and a true friend and supporter of all that we do and work for. See you at the Royal Albert Hall!”