COURSES: What do courses cost? Expand The cost of our courses is subsidised, which is made possible through the generous support of numerous Trusts, Foundations & Donors and - as we don't want any talented young singer to be prevented from attending based purely on financial reasons - further assistance is available. You can apply for financial assistance towards course fees, as well as towards audition costs and membership fees etc. You'll find what each 2017 course costs below, alongside what you pay. Course Costs and Fees (per course) 2017 National Youth Boys' Choir / Cambiata Voices National Youth Girls' Choir National Youth Training Choir National Youth Choir It costs £760 It costs £760 It costs £1,250 It costs £1,400 You Pay £540 You Pay £540 You Pay £765 You Pay £775 We ask that you book, or decline, both Spring and Summer Courses via your online member record by early January and that the deposits are paid at the time of booking, or by the end of January for those awaiting decisions on applications for financial assistance. The final instalment for the Spring Course is due around mid-March and around the end of June for the Summer Course. Click here to find out how to apply for financial assistance towards course fees.
COURSES: Do I have to attend both courses? Expand Although we'd love it if you could attend both the Spring and Summer Courses to get the most from your NYCGB membership, we realise that sometimes you're not able to do so. However, we ask that you don't miss two consecutive courses as we need to hear all members regularly to ensure the high standard of our choirs. For example, if you miss the Summer Course one year, you need to attend in Spring the following year to retain your membership. As we don't insist that all members attend both courses, the number of members within a choir is greater than the number of places available on each course, so they do sometimes fill up. We always recommend that you don't delay and book your places as soon as possible!
COURSES: Who looks after me and what are they like? Expand Each course has a Head of Pastoral Care, who is often a nurse, teacher or health/social care professional. They are trained to high levels and have a wealth of experience. Their role is to care for the safety and wellbeing of every young singer. The Head of Pastoral Care is supported on each course by a team of Senior Pastoral staff who have considerable safeguarding experience on NYCGB courses and in the wider course of their work. In addition, there is a further support team of Course Assistants, a number of which are current or past members of NYCGB who bring an understanding of what it's like to be a young person away from home on a residential course. There is also a range of Music Staff, but in practice the roles overlap. Singing Teachers and Section Leaders take equal care to be aware of how each singer is getting along and have equal responsibility for flagging concerns with Pastoral Staff as required. Our Head of Safeguarding, Joy Brereton, has particular responsibility for ensuring that your welfare is paramount on courses and works closely with Course Directors, Managers and Pastoral Staff who have overall responsibility for running the course. Click here to find out more about our Head of Safeguarding, Joy Brereton Click here to read our Safeguarding policies
COURSES: Where will I sleep and what will I eat? Expand You will sleep in a boarding house on the same site as the music rooms and bedding is provided. At least one member of pastoral staff is located in each house to look after you. You'll be sent a list of everyone joining you on a course and can state any roommate preference. We're unable to guarantee your request, but will do our best. If you have no preference, or are a new member, where possible you will be allocated a shared room with, or a single room nearby, other members of similar age and experience. All meals are provided and we do our best to meet any special dietary requirements.
COURSES: What will I do on a course? Expand Every course is different, but all are full of rehearsals, tuition, workshops, social activities and finish with a concert so that your family and friends - and the general public - can enjoy the results of your hard work and preparations. A regular day will look something like this: 8am Breakfast 9am Warm-up and rehearsals within your section 11am Break 11.30am Rehearsal with the full choir 12.45pm Lunch 1.45pm Social Activities 3pm Sectional Rehearsals 5pm Full rehearsal 6pm Dinner 7pm Rehearsal 8pm Social Activities/Down-time for Juniors Choirs 9pm Social Activities/Down-time for Training and National Youth Choirs or Sign-in for Junior Choirs 10pm Sign-in for Training and National Youth Choirs Click here to head to the 'Our Courses' page for more information
COURSES: How long do courses last? Expand Our Junior Choir courses (Girls' Choir, Boys' Choir & Cambiata Voices) are five days long, our Training Choir courses (North & South) are around eight days long and our National Youth Choir courses are around nine to ten days long.
COURSES: Where and when do courses take place? Expand You'll go on up to two residential courses each year; one during the Easter school holidays and one during the Summer break. We set dates to coincide with the majority of Local Education Authority state school holidays, but as these vary around the UK, don't despair if the courses run into term-time! We find that most schools are happy to allow you time away to attend our courses. Our courses take place around the UK in places such as Perthshire, Cornwall, Yorkshire, Cardiff and Suffolk. Be prepared to travel to represent this national choir, but remember that financial assistance is available. National Youth Choir will also tour internationally every three to four years - most recently to China in 2016.