Age 7-22 and living in London? Audition for London Youth Choirs!

You can now sign up to audition for one of our ten choirs. If you live in London and like to sing, we’d love to meet you!

The sign-up period for July auditions will close at midday on Monday 23 June 2025.

The sign-up period for September auditions (year 11 to age 23 only) will close at midday on Thursday 21 August.

Click here for more information.

‘In the Making’ is the UK’s only year-long artist development programme for talented young music creators and composers aged 14–18

It supports those passionate about making music in any form and is open to all, regardless of instrument, musical interests, creative goals, background, or location.

The programme brings together 50 young music creators from across the UK for a week-long residential at the University of Huddersfield where they will create, record and perform their own original new music and access a wealth of workshops, learning sessions and career development.

They are guided by artists, top composers, industry professionals and tutors throughout the week and then during their subsequent 12-month virtual journey, transforming their composing and performing skills while building their confidence, experience, and creative ambition.

FEES AND BURSARIES
The standard fee including residential accommodation is £836, or £536 without accommodation.
There is a means-tested bursary scheme, which can cover up to 100% of the fee and in some cases can also contribute to travel costs.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Applications close at midnight on Monday 5 May.

Applications are open for auditions for the National Youth Orchestra

Being in NYO gives you the chance to:

• Perform epic masterworks in amazing places
• Gain skills and confidence to thrive on and off stage
• Reach new heights as a musician
• Make an impact as a mentor and motivator

Cost
Auditions are free, and travel and accommodation bursaries are available for in-person auditions.
The cost for a year in NYO is £2,499, there is a generous bursary scheme available.

How to apply
Click here for all the information about membership and auditions. The link to apply for an audition is on page 7.

The deadline to apply is 9am on Monday 19 May.

The Royal Ballet and Opera invite enthusiastic young singers (age 8-11) to apply for their FREE Youth Opera Programme

RBO YOUNG VOICES (AGE 8-9)
RBO Young Voices is a singing programme for 8-9 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 RBO Youth Opera Company.

RBO YOUTH OPERA COMPANY (AGE 9-13)
The Youth Opera Company is RBO’s in-house chorus of 9 to 13 year olds. Participants receive 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 RBO YOC also has the opportunity to audition for the children’s chorus in one Royal Opera Company production per season.

Click here for more information and to apply. Applications will close on Friday 23 May.

Thinking about joining London Youth Choirs but…

Not sure what to expect?
Nervous about doing an audition?
Never really sung before and would like to try choir?

We are running a free ‘Experience London Youth Choirs’ session for young people aged 6-11 yrs, to show you what LYC is like and help you to prepare for an audition. As well as lots of singing and some movement, the session will include tips on preparing for an LYC audition and building confidence and skills in your singing.

We hope that this fun and friendly afternoon will inspire you to sign up for an audition for one of our ten weekly choirs!

Click here for more information and to sign up.

Would you like to work with a professional choir for three intensive days of choral singing?

The sixth Stile Antico Youth Consort course, for singers aged approximately 16-22, will be held in London from 25-27 August 2025. The course is aimed at singers who already have experience of choral singing and are competent sight readers.

This course offers the chance for young singers (aged approximately 16-22) to work with members of Stile Antico over three days of intensive sessions. The course will focus on ensemble skills, collaborative music-making, and the historical context of the repertoire. All participants will also have the chance to develop their consort singing skills further by working in smaller, one-per-part groups. We recognise that participants will come with varied levels of experience and confidence, and will aim to place participants into well-matched groups, with support where needed.

Dates and Times
Monday 25th Aug, 2pm-8pm
Tuesday 26th Aug, 10am – 5pm
Wednesday 27th Aug, 10am – 5.30pm, with informal performance at 4pm

Venue
St Gabriel’s Church, Pimlico, London, SW1V 2AD

Cost
Course fee: £180 per participant (early bird rate) / £200 (after 31 May)
Refreshments will be provided, including lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday

Thanks to generous support from The Doggett Family Foundation and the Stile Antico Foundation, bursaries are available. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to discuss financial assistance.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Would you like to sing with Sir John Rutter?

This is a unique opportunity to sing with Sir John Rutter and singers from The Bach Choir. You’ll sing some of John’s folk-song cycle The Sprig of Thyme and a sneak preview of his new work Dancing Tree together with a mixture of familiar favourites to bring some midsummer sunshine.

Date: Saturday 21 June 2025
Time: 11am – 4.45pm
Venue: St Gabriel’s Pimlico, London, SW1V 2AD

Tickets for students are just £11 (reduced from £28), which includes music provided on the day. 

Visit The Bach Choir website for more information and to book.

Interested in studying at a conservatoire?

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)’s award-winning open day offers prospective students a unique opportunity to learn all there is to know about studying at a world-leading conservatoire.

The day includes sessions on RNCM degree programmes, performances and Q&As with staff and students, School-specific activity, tours of the building, and the chance to meet with admissions, finance, and wellbeing staff. It’s also a great way to chat to current students about what it’s like to live and study in Manchester.

Click here for more information and to book your place.

The BBC Young Composer Competition 2025 is now officially open!

The BBC are looking for music makers aged 12-18 (on 1st July 2025) who are creating their own original music. Whether you compose for orchestras, write songs, produce beats, or experiment with sound in unique ways, the BBC Young Composer Competition could be the perfect opportunity to take your talent to the next level.

Entrants don’t need to play an instrument or read music, they just need to have a passion for creating their own original music and be excited to work on a brand new piece of music with member of the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Entries close at 4pm on Thursday 25th September.

Click here for more information and to enter.

Good luck!

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.

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/

If you are under 21 you can get FREE tickets for English National Opera productions! 

If you’re 5-15 years old: you can get two free opera tickets with each full-paying adult

If you’re 16-20 years old: join the Under 21s membership scheme and get one free opera ticket per performance

Click here for more information

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