Michael C. Brewer (Mike Brewer) is musical director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain.[1] He also conducts Laudibus, a chamber choir. Brewer has a master of music degree and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1995.
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He began his career as a schoolteacher. In 1966 he was appointed Head of Music at the Royal Liberty Grammar School, Romford, where he established a large and thriving choir which performed several great works including Bach's "Christmas Oratorio", Mozart's "Requiem" and Haydn's "Creation". During his time in Romford he also founded the Havering Youth Choir. In 1969 he co-wrote an opera, "The Sword In The Stone", a modern work based upon the legend of King Arthur. In 1970 he moved to become Head of Music at The Latymer School.
In 1983 he took the decision with Carl Browning to establish the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. Since then he has been instrumental in forming the NYC's approach to the development of young singers.
He is adviser on world music to the International Federation of Choral Music[1] and assessor to Mexico’s choral programme.
Brewer is consultant for 20 various UK choirs and has been adjudicator for the finals of “Choir of the Year” and the National Festival of Music for Youth in the UK and in international competitions.
Brewer has written books for Fabermusic, including Kickstart your Choir, Warmups, Improve Your Sightsinging (with Paul Harris) and Finetune your Choir. He has published two sets of African songs, Hamba Lulu and Babevuya. Other works are Playpiece, commissioned for the Aberdeen Festival, and Worldsong, performed in the Schools’ Proms 2005.
Brewer was a Churchill Fellow for 2002–3. In 2006–7 his tours took in Mexico, Venezuela, the United States, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, and the Seychelles.