Five RHS pupils recruited by National Youth Choirs of Great Britain
22 Jan 2015
The Royal Hospital School, Suffolk, has five current pupils in the prestigious National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. Sally Watson (Year 11) recently gained a place in the National Youth Training Choir of Great Britain joining George Rennison (Year 13), Taylor Godfrey (Year 10), Dan Waterman (Year 10) and Tom Brown (Year 9).
William Saunders, Director of Music at the Royal Hospital School, said “This is a staggering achievement – the choir equivalent of an Olympic team. The Royal Hospital School has a long tradition of choral excellence and this success is testament to the hard work and devotion to singing shown by these young people.”
Established in 1983, The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB) is renowned for its standards in the education and training of young singers and the main choir – the National Youth Choir – is firmly recognised as one of the world’s finest vocal ensembles. Originally set up as a single choir of 100 of the best singers in the nation, NYCGB now provides the widest musical experiences for over 750 young people aged 8-26. The educational structure comprises four Junior Choirs which provide opportunities for girls to audition from the age of 11 and boys from the age of 8, two Training Choirs for singers aged 13-18 and the National Youth Choir itself for singers aged 16-22.
Through its core programme of activities, NYCGB provides the experience of a lifetime for its members, working alongside distinguished conductors and choirs. The 12 residential courses that form the backbone of the annual activity include intensive rehearsals, individual voice coaching and lessons in musicianship, all of which take place in an environment that develops both teamwork and leadership. The courses aim to develop performance skills at the highest level, challenging young singers to embrace a vast repertoire and develop a flexible and creative approach to musical performance. NYCGB also operates a programme of tuition for student conductors and vocal workshops led by guest specialists, all selected for their expertise in the field of choral training.
Howard Goodall, National Ambassador for Singing said of NYCGB “They are of a phenomenally high, world-class standard and act as a springboard for the country’s most gifted and versatile young singers”.
Photo: Sally Watson, Dan Waterman, Tom Brown, George Rennison and Taylor Godfrey