National Youth Choir of Scotland

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The National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS) is dedicated to providing high-level singing opportunities for Scotland's young singers. Formed in 1996 as a flagship youth choir, it's activities have since dramatically expanded to include 4 National Choirs; The National Youth Choir of Scotland, NYCoS Training Choir, National Boys Choir and National Girls Choir, 10 Area Choirs, a strong educational remit and an extensive range of music publications, CDs and resources. There are over 2,500 young people across Scotland involved in NYCoS activities.

NYCoS is led by Artistic Director Christopher Bell, who has masterminded the choir's rise to prominence in the musical world. They have sung numerous arrangements and original pieces by prolific Scottish and international composers including Eric Whitacre, Poulenc, Bernstein, Britten and Ken Johnston. Entry is by audition for singers aged 16 - 24 years. The basis of the choirs activities stem from a residential week in the summer, followed by concerts in Scottish cities. They have toured internationally to Sweden in 2001, Chicago in 2004 and Hungary in 2007. They performed at the BBC Proms in the Park in 2005 and 2007.

NYCoS Training Choir, directed by Sue Hollingworth, gives singers aged 15 - 19 who need more experience (and perhaps time for their voices to develop) the opportunity to undertake challenging repertoire and have expert vocal and choral and individual coaching. Entry is by audition and the members of Training Choir share the residential course and some of the Scottish concerts with NYCoS.

The National Boys Choir was formed in 2002 and gives boys with unchanged and changed voices a unique opportunity to sing together to the highest standards. Entry is by audition and is open for boys aged 10 - 15. Structured in three sections, Junior Corps, NBC and Changed Voices, the choir meets annually around Easter time for a residential course, followed by concerts. The choir has performed in Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Linlithgow, Londonderry, Paisley and Stirling. In 2007, NBC toured to Kendal and Dumfries giving concerts in Kendal Town Hall and the beautiful Chrichton Church in Dumfries. The Choir has a varued repertoire including classical, sacred and Scots songs. Recent commissions include Tom Cunningham's Saga of the Seven Days and Sheena Phillips Sea Shanties.

The National Girls Choir was formed in 2007. 80 young singers between the ages of 13 and 15 were selected by audition from all over Scotland. The daily timetable was the usual NYCoS mixture of high quality vocal coaching, musicianship training and full choir rehearsals. They performed their first concert to critical acclaim in the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh in April 2007.

In 1998 NYCoS formed two Children's Choirs (now known as Area Choirs), one in Livingston, West Lothian and one in Edinburgh. Each choir had approximately 60 members. Members were recruited from Primary 3 pupils (with some Primary 4 to make up numbers). Both choirs met for one hour each week and members received musicianship training for 30 minutes and sang as a choir for the remaining 30 minutes. At present there are 10 Area Choirs - Dumfries , Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Galloway, Isle of Lewis, Midlothian, Renfrewshire, Stirling and West Lothian - with a staggering membership of 2,000 children. The set-up of the Area Choirs is still the same with members recieiving musicianship training and singing as a choir. End of term concerts are given at Christmas and Summer.

NYCoS has a large educational remit and runs successful Kodaly Musicianship Training weekends for teachers, choir directors and music specialists. They run in-service days and singing workshops for schools. They also run Mini Music Makers classes across Scotland, which are musical sessions designed to introduce babies, toddlers and nursery age children and their parent/carer to the world of music.

NYCoS also produces a wide range of song books and educational resources.