LYC West is a choir for children in school years 3 – 6, based in Ealing. It’s the second LYC regional choir, created as part of our 10th anniversary plan to bring brilliant musical education closer to home for more young people across London.
LYC West is for children in school years 3-6 who live in Ealing and surrounding areas of West London.
You don’t need to have any previous experience of singing, or of singing in choirs or groups. And if you do sing already, it doesn’t matter what style you sing in, or what music you like to sing: there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ singer for a choir, and we sing all sorts of music!
To join LYC West 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 make bad comments or try to catch you out, we want to see and hear you at your best! We also think it’s important to hear you as part of a group, rather than on your own, so your audition will take the form of a workshop with others.
To find out all about auditioning, visit the Join LYC page.
As a member of LYC West you will meet every Thursday during term-time for rehearsal.
Rehearsals are from 4.30-5.40pm. At rehearsals you’ll learn and practice songs and skills, developing abilities and confidence as you go. We sometimes invite guest leaders to introduce special music and activities. You will also get to take part in social activities and make new friends.
Other LYC West membership benefits include your LYC t-shirt, all your music for the term, and access to our secure online members zone, MyLYC.
Finance should not be a barrier to participation in LYC.
Standard membership fees for the 2025/26 year are £500 with the option to contribute more if you are able. Membership fees go towards covering the cost of running the choirs, safeguarding, events and the wide range of opportunities that we offer. As a charity, LYC subsidises all membership fees by around 65% of the total cost of membership through grants and fundraising.
LYC also has a comprehensive financial assistance scheme which offers full or partial help with membership costs, grants for travel to and from rehearsals and concerts, free concert tickets for families, and help with the cost of concert uniform. In 2023-24, we gave financial support to 30% of our membership.
There is so much to get out of being a member of LYC West: vocal and musical skills and training, experience of concerts, recordings and music videos, social activities and amazing friendships – but don’t take it from us! Watch this video to hear from LYC members.
ASK AWAY!
If you’ve got any questions about LYC West, we’ve almost certainly got the answers! Drop us an email (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm) and we’ll be happy to help.
Kwankaew Ruangtrakool
Conductor (LYC West)
Kwan is a Thai conductor and soprano driven by her ambition to create meaningful connections with people through music and inspire social change. She is currently pursuing her MA in Choral Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, and holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Manchester.
Read more
Since 2020, Shivani has served as choral co-ordinator for Brent Music Service, while also collaborating with a wide range of national organisations. Her roles include Assistant Conductor for The National Children’s Choir of Great Britain, working in SEND schools with Music of Life, and Singing Schools Workshop Leader with Tenebrae. Shivani is a former National Youth Choir Fellow and now enjoys working with the organisation as a section coach.
A graduate of Royal Holloway, Shivani held a choral scholarship and directed The Founder’s Choir. With the chapel choir, she toured internationally and recorded works by composers including Joanna Marsh, Ben Parry, and Ola Gjeilo.
In 2022, Sing for Pleasure published her Three Indian Celebration Songs, designed to broaden representation in the choral landscape through accessible, joyful layering pieces. She has since been commissioned by Hal Leonard to write music for the same purpose.
OUR PARTNER – EALING MUSIC SERVICE
LYC West has been launched in partnership with Ealing Music Service. Ealing Music Service is the lead organisation of Ealing Music Partnership (the Music Education Hub for The London Borough of Ealing). The Ealing Music Partnership Board plays a central role in shaping priorities and aims to make the most efficient and effective use of the various funding sources and resources for music education in and out of school. LYC are grateful to Ealing Music Service for their essential support.
OUR PARTNER – JOHN LYON’S CHARITY
LYC West is made possible through the generous support of John Lyon’s Charity.