LYC Blog #14: A Family Story
Published 9 August 2024
LYC parent Cynthia writes about her experience of having four children in London Youth Choirs
As a proud mum of five, four of whom attend LYC weekly, my husband and I have adapted well to the after-school shuffle. Choir rehearsals are on Mondays for my older kids and Thursdays for my younger ones. However by September all four of them will be in separate choirs: London Youth Choir, Cambiata Girls, Cambiata Boys and South East. My second eldest started in 2015 and is currently in the London Youth Choir, my middle child started in 2018 and is in Cambiata Girls and my youngest two started last year and are in the South East choir.
Despite the choirs being held on separate days of the week and at separate locations my husband and I make it work by taking turns dropping off and picking our children up. It’s easier for the older girls as they tend to go by themselves and get picked up by their dad whilst I drop off and pick up the younger two on a Thursday. Having the choirs on separate days is quite manageable.
It has been such a reward to watch their confidence grow. My children have a newfound love and a great passion for singing. It’s now all they ever do, whether it’s around the house or even in the shower. My husband and I take turns seeing all the concerts and it’s remarkable seeing how concentrated the younger ones become towards the conductor compared to all their daily antics.
A specifically profound memory is when my middle child, Meredith, had the opportunity to perform at the Platinum Party at the Palace in 2022. In the choir, she sang with Jason Donovan and met Lin Manuel Miranda, who wrote her favourite musical Hamilton, making it an amazing moment for her. She likes to show the selfie with him whenever she can.
The choir is quite beneficial for my children and I’d recommend it to any family who are considering it. The sense of community, musical growth, and personal development it fosters is truly invaluable, creating memories and skills that will last a lifetime.
