Opportunities for young musicians
Updated 14 February 2025
At LYC we love supporting other organisations who want to give young people opportunities to sing. Below are a number of exciting opportunities for young musicians in London and beyond. Whatever kind of music you enjoy, we hope there’s something for you!
Renaissance singers free concert tickets for u21s | 15 February
The Renaissance Singers are offering free tickets to under 21s for all of their concerts
The Renaissance Singers’ next concert is on Saturday 15 February and features music by the great renaissance composer Palestrina.
Date: Saturday 15 February
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Holy Sepulchre Church, Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2DQ
Visit The Renaissance Singers website to find out more.
Free Half-Term Family Come & Sing Events | 20 & 21 February
Do you like singing? Are you looking for free half-term family activities?
London Youth Choirs is running two free singing events for families to have fun together during February half-term. The session is designed for parents with children aged 7-11 but younger siblings are also welcome. No singing experience is necessary, and there will be free snacks provided!
The events are free to attend but please sign up via the forms below. Children must all be accompanied by an adult over 18.
Date: Thursday 20 February
Time: 10:30am to 12pm
Venue: The Rickyard, Walpole Park, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, Ealing, London W5 5EQ
Click here to sign up for the Come & Sing event in Ealing
Date: Friday 21 February
Time: 10:30am to 12pm
Venue: Woodfield Pavilion, 16A Abbotswood Road, Tooting Common, London SW16 1AP
Click here to sign up for the Come & Sing event in Streatham
£7500 Temple Church Scholarship for Year 3 | Apply by 21 February
Temple Church Choir is now recruiting girls and boys currently in school year 3 for admission in September 2025
Choristers benefit from:
- an outstanding cathedral-style musical education
- being part of a unique team, striving for musical excellence
- exceptional performances opportunities alongside professional musicians
- making new friends
- contributing to a tradition with its roots in the 12th century
- generous scholarship opportunities
Entry to the choir is by audition in Year 3. Temple Church is looking for children with musical potential and who will thrive in a team. Choristers are trained from the very start, so there is no need for children auditioning to have reached a particular instrumental grade or standard. Potential choristers just need to have a keen musical ear and an enthusiasm for learning.
Click here for the full information pack about the scholarship.
Please email [email protected] to register your interest. The deadline to register interest is Friday 21 February.
£500 prize for aspiring professional singers | Apply by 28 February
Audition Oracle has announced a Singers’ Preparation Award worth £500
The one-off award provides £500 to support the preparation and development of an opera, choral, or classical singer. Recipients may use the award in a variety of ways, including:
- Training to prepare for specific performances
- Personal brand development, such as website creation or design work
- Mounting personal performances and productions
- Creating performance opportunities for others
- Developing new works
Visit the Audition Oracle website for more information and to apply
The application deadline is 28 February 2025.
National Open Youth Orchestra Open Rehearsals | 1 & 30 March
Interested in applying for the National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO)?
The London NOYO ensemble is holding open rehearsals on 1 and 30 March at Milton Court, EC2Y 9BH. This is a chance to watch a rehearsal, meet some of the Music Leaders and musicians in your region, and ask any questions you might have.
Applications to join the London NOYO ensemble will be open freom 14 February to 31 March 2025 for musicians aged 11-25.
Visit the NOYO website for more information and to register for an Open Rehearsal.
Compose a choral piece for Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge | Deadline 5 March
Do you like setting text to music?
The Choir of Gonville & Caius College is delighted to announce the Caius Choral Composition Prize. They are inviting keen young composers to write a short piece for the choir to perform. The competition is open to students enrolled in state education, including those over the age of 18 in sixth form/college.
The winning piece will be performed by Caius Choir at Choral Evensong on the 11th May 2025. The winner will be invited to attend the rehearsal and Evensong, and Caius are are able to make a contribution towards the winner’s travel expenses. Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of whether they will be able to attend on the 11th.
The performance will be recorded and the winner will also be provided with an audio recording and video of Caius Choir’s performance of their piece. In addition to these recordings, the winner will receive an award of £350.
Visit the Gonville and Caius website for more information.
The deadline to send your composition is 3pm on 5 March 2025. Good luck!
LSO Conservatoire Scholarships | Apply by 10 March
Do you want to apply to a conservatoire for postgraduate study but are worried about the cost?
The LSO (London Symphony Orchestra) are running a Scholarships programme which aims to ensure that musicians from all backgrounds have access to conservatoire training, and to reduce barriers to entering the music industry.
Each year the LSO will award ten new individuals with scholarship support of up to £15,000 per academic year to contribute to living and maintenance costs while studying, lasting for the duration of their course.
The LSO will also provide support and professional development opportunities to recipients throughout the year. This may include a combination of mentoring and coaching sessions, side-by-side rehearsal and performance opportunities with the full Orchestra, and ongoing career advice.
Visit the LSO website for more information.
The closing date for applications is 10 March 2025.
Write a fanfare for a professional orchestra | Deadline 21 April
The Proms at St Jude’s ‘Fantastic Fanfares’ compeition is an exciting opportunity for young composers to have your music performed professionally
The compeition is open to young people aged 11-18 who love writing music. Winners will have their fanfare played by solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie and Fantastia Orchestra during the Proms at St Jude’s festival. They’ll also receive Dorico Pro composing software and Amazon gift vouchers.
The task is to write a fanfare for snare drum and strings to open Proms at St Jude’s 2025. There are two categories: aged 11-14 and aged 15-18.
Email [email protected] for more information
Come & Sing with John Rutter - £11 Student Tickets | 21 June
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.
Introduction to conducting with National Children's Choir
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.
Join Wired4Music - London's network for musical 16-25 year olds
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/
English National Opera Free Tickets for U21s
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
Cavatina Chamber Music Trust - Free Ticket Scheme (ages 8-25)
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