Join a musical adventure: Auditions 2026

Are you ready to find your voice, make amazing friends, and sing on some of London’s biggest stages? At London Youth Choirs (LYC), we bring together young people from all across the city to discover the joy of music. Whether you are already a seasoned performer or just taking your first steps, we want you!

When you sing with us, you will challenge yourself with a rich mix of classical music and exciting contemporary styles. But LYC is more than just a choir—it’s a supportive, welcoming community where you can develop your skills, build confidence, and truly thrive. Since 2012, 15,000 young singers have shared their voices with us, and we are committed to making sure that every single young person has the opportunity to join, regardless of background.

Click here to apply for an audition

You can now apply for an audition for all choirs! The sign-up period for July auditions will close at midday on Friday 19 June 2026.

Click here to apply for an audition.

Which LYC choir is for me?

We have six choirs for young people in school years 3-6:

LYC Junior Boys - rehearses Mondays, 4.30-5.40pm in Waterloo
LYC Junior Girls - rehearses Mondays, 4.30-5.40pm in Waterloo
LYC South West - rehearses Wednesdays, 4.30-5.40pm in Streatham
LYC North East - rehearses Thursdays, 4.30-5.40pm in Tottenham
LYC South East - rehearses Thursdays, 4.30-5.40pm in Bermondsey
LYC West - rehearses Thursdays, 4.30-5.40pm in Ealing

We have two choirs for young people in school years 7-11: LYC Cambiata Boys and LYC Cambiata Girls. They both rehearse on Mondays from 6-7.15pm in Waterloo.

Young people in Year 11 up to age 23 can be in London Youth Choir. They rehearse on Mondays from 6-8pm in Waterloo.

Young people age 18-23 can be in LYC Chamber Choir. They rehearse on Mondays from 6.30-8.30pm in Waterloo.

You can be in LYC until the end of the academic year in which you turn 23.

More about the LYC choirs

What else should I know about joining LYC?

You can be in London Youth Choirs from school year 3 until the end of the academic year in which you turn 23.

You don't need to have any previous experience of singing in choirs or groups. If you do sing already, it doesn't matter what style you like to sing: there's no 'right' or 'wrong' singer for a choir and we sing all sorts of music.

To join LYC you first need to audition. That might sound scary but we make a big effort to ensure that the experience is friendly and supportive. We won't try to catch you out, we want to see and hear you at your best.

Auditions for junior choirs will be held in groups, and auditions for Cambiata choirs, LYC Chamber Choir and London Youth Choir will be individual auditions.

Information about when our next auditions are can be found at the top of this page.

As a member of LYC you will meet once a week during term-time for rehearsal. Rehearsals are always at the same time in the same place (these vary depending on which choir you audition for). At rehearsals you'll learn and practice songs and skills, developing abilities and confidence as you go. Sometimes, we invite guest leaders to introduce different music and activities.

As an LYC member, you will sing in 1-3 concerts or other events each term. These are in different kinds of venues - sometimes in central London and sometimes closer to your rehearsal venue - and sometimes with other LYC choirs.

You will also get to take part in social activities and make new friends.

Other LYC membership benefits include your LYC t-shirt, all your music and access to our secure online members zone, MyLYC.

All auditions are free.

FINANCE SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER TO PARTICIPATION IN LYC.

What does LYC cost? It is not a straightforward question. We have put in place a fee structure that aims to ensure everyone can take part, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Over the course of one year at LYC, we invest £1,400 in each member of our 10 choirs. Of course, we don’t expect every family to be able to contribute that full amount, though if you are able to do so, we will ask you to.

LYC has a transparent fee structure reflecting our commitment to fairness and integrity. Our payment tiers are based on combined gross household income (aligned with UK tax bands) and demonstrate how each place is subsidised through LYC’s fundraising.

Membership fees for 2026-27 will range from £0 to £116.67 per month. For those not applying for Financial Assistance, the minimum fee is £54.17 per month, with families encouraged to contribute more if they can.

As always, we remain committed to offering exceptional musical experiences while ensuring the programme stays accessible. Full and partial Financial Assistance is available for any family with a household income below £50,271.

If you are offered a place at LYC, we will write to you in more detail. We are always happy to discuss this further to find the right level of support for you. Above all, LYC is committed to ensuring that financial barriers never stand in the way of young people coming to sing with us!

There is so much to get out of being a member of LYC: vocal and musical skills and training, experience of concerts, recordings, music videos and amazing venues as well as life long friendships. Here is what some of our members have said about their experiences:

"It means a lot to me to join LYC and to be singing for thousands of people every year. I have fun every week at the rehearsals. I like seeing everyone and I love rehearsing for concerts, and to meet new faces and chat." - current member

"Singing in LYC has been a pivotal experience in my development as a musician. As a young singer, LYC equipped me with the musicianship skills, versatility and confidence to go after my dream of becoming a professional singer. The friendships and connections I made with colleagues and mentors have been essential to my growth and I will always cherish the memories of our rehearsals and performances." - former member

"Everyone has been very nice and welcoming. It's the first choir I've been in and it's a lot of fun. Loads of cool opportunities, and everyone is so kind and open to talk with" - current member

“LYC has given me back confidence I never knew I needed. It has introduced me to the best people I have ever met and taught me that its okay to be a choral music nerd. I look forward to every rehearsal all week and feel such a sense of belonging like I’ve never felt before. Everyone is so warm and welcoming and you feel like you can talk to everyone. The staff is incredible and are the best people.” - former member

How do auditions work?

LYC auditions are relaxed, informal and fun! We just want to get to know you and your voice, and find out what singing and music mean to you.

What happens in an audition: Junior choirs (School Years 3-6)

You will join a group singing workshop with two member of our music team and other auditionees. You won’t need to prepare anything in advance. You will start with some fun warm ups. Then you will be introduced to some simple songs which you will learn together with the other singers in the group. At the end you will demonstrate phrases in the group and on your own. The workshop will be fun and you can expect to get a taste for what actual LYC rehearsals are like. The audition will be just like a rehearsal, and will last one hour.

What happens in an audition: Cambiata Choirs (School Years 7-11)

You will have an individual audition with a member of the music team and staff team.

For the audition, you should prepare and bring along a song that you love to sing – it can be any genre or style, and doesn’t need to be longer than a minute. You can sing it a cappella (unaccompanied) or with an accompaniment or backing track (if you would like to organise that).

After you have sung your song we will have a little chat about what it means and why you have chosen it. We might ask you what singing you do, and what your musical aspirations are. We may also include some musical skills challenges, but don’t panic as these will be appropriate to your level of experience. Your audition should take up to 10 minutes.

What happens in an audition: London Youth Choir & LYC Chamber Choir (School Year 11 to age 22)

You will have an individual audition with a member of the music team and staff team.

After you have sung your song we will have a little chat about what it means and why you have chosen it. We might ask you what singing you do, and what your musical aspirations are. We will also include some musical skills challenges and sight-reading, which will be appropriate to your level of experience. Your audition should take up to 12 minutes.

How can I sign up for an audition?

Check below for the next auditions and sign-up links. If no audition dates are given, you can join our mailing list or follow us on social media to find out when the next auditions will be.

Click here to apply for an audition

You can now apply for an audition for all choirs! The sign-up period for July auditions will close at midday on Friday 19 June 2026.

Click here to apply for an audition.

If I sign up, am I guaranteed an audition?

As a charity, we are committed to ensuring that every young person in London with a spark for music can sing with us. However, with access to music at an all-time low, the demand for our 10 choirs often exceeds the space and funding we have available. To be the most effective agent for young people and to ensure equitable access to our choirs, we must sometimes make difficult decisions to prioritise those young people who need us most.

Opening the Door to Opportunity

We believe that a completely free or partially free place at LYC can mean so much to a young singer who may not otherwise have the opportunity to excel. Currently, 98% of our singers benefit from financial assistance, with many receiving completely free places, including support for travel and concert attire.

Because our resources are limited, we use a clear set of criteria to help us decide how to allocate audition slots. This comes into effect when a choir is near to capacity, and there are many more audition sign ups than places available.

How We Prioritise

To create a vibrant, diverse community that reflects the true spirit of London, we focus our reach on those who face the greatest barriers to choral music.

For Singers auditioning for Junior Boys, Cambiata Boys or LYC (lower voices)

We are currently working hard to build a more balanced vocal community and are particularly encouraging more boys and young men to join London Youth Choirs. To support this goal, all boys who apply will be guaranteed an audition.

For Singers auditioning for Junior girls, Cambiata girls or LYC (Upper voices)

Due to the very high volume of applications we receive from girls, we prioritise audition places based on the following criteria to ensure we are reaching those with the least access to musical opportunities:

Financial Need: Priority is given to those from low-household-income backgrounds.

- - Access to Music: We prioritise students who have limited or no access to music provision. We look closely at the type of school a young person attends to identify where musical resources may be most stretched.
  - Background & Heritage: In line with our commitment to diversity, we prioritise singers from marginalised ethnicities and global majority heritage.
  - Disability or special educational need (SEN): We recognise that young people with a disability or SEN are not only underrepresented in our choirs, but also face some of the greatest challenges in accessing musical education.
  - Siblings or current members: We will also prioritise audition places for young people joining from a different LYC choir or who have a sibling already in LYC.

When you sign up for an audition you will be asked to provide some basic information that will enable us to make these decisions.

If you are not offered an audition this time, we would still love for you to become part of the LYC family, and we will send you information about other events, workshops and projects you can get involved in!

Frequently asked questions

What if I fall between age groups for choirs?

Choir allocation will be at the discretion of the musical director. For example, you may be placed in one of the Cambiata Choirs rather than London Youth Choir if it is felt that you have good potential but may not yet be ready for the challenge of the next choir.

What if I'm a boy whose voice is changing?

We have a special choir just for you, LYC Cambiata Boys. You are very welcome to apply. At audition you will be listened to by a specialist. Boys with changing voices are assessed on a case-by-case basis. We will carefully nurture you through this process and place you in the appropriate voice part.

What if I'm between schools this summer?

Put in the details of your new school.

What if I am non-binary?

LYC is for all young Londoners, regardless of gender. If you are unsure which choir to audition for, please get in touch at [email protected] or 07388 623 178, and we’ll be very happy to support you to find which choir is right for you.

If I get in will I have to audition again to keep my place?

We like to keep up with how our members are progressing vocally. You may be asked to sing on your own from time to time, so that our vocal coaches can give you input. You will also have to audition each time you move up to the next choir. Members of London Youth Choir and LYC Chamber Choir are required to re-audition annually.

Are the rehearsal venues accessible for me?

Everyone is welcome in our choirs, regardless of disability. We want you to feel as safe, comfortable and confident as possible during weekly rehearsals, and we will work with you to put any adjustments in place.

For information about our rehearsal venues, please read our Rehearsal Venue Accessibility Guide.

I live just outside London, can I still audition?

You can still audition, however, priority for membership in London Youth Choirs is for those living or educated within London (Boroughs covered by the Greater London Authority and the City of London).