NYCGB Taster Weekend at Durham Vocal Festival, Feb 2019. Image: Mark Savage

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5 February 2019

More than 60 talented young singers from across the North East got to experience being part of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain this weekend at a free event as part of Durham Vocal Festival.

The singers aged between 11-14, were identified by their local Music Education Hubs for their vocal potential and put forward for the weekend with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB). The project is part of a wider collaboration between Durham Vocal Festival, NYCGB and the six North East Music Education Hubs aiming to help more of the region’s talented young singers to fulfil their potential and be inspired to take their singing further.

Held at St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham City on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 February, the free event was led by NYCGB Deputy Music Director Esther Jones, who has conducted the National Youth Choirs at some of the biggest venues in the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall.

Over the course of the weekend, the singers were offered an exciting and intensive National Youth Choir style programme of singing and musicianship to boost their vocal and musical skills. On Sunday afternoon, friends and families were invited to a free performance by the group, who proudly presented a range of music including pop, gospel and classical numbers, learned during their two days on the course.

Esther Jones said:

It is always a pleasure to work with talented young singers, to develop their skills and raise their aspirations. And it is fantastic to be running this activity as part of the Durham Vocal Festival which is an excellent initiative that supports choral music across the region.

Mike Summers who manages Durham Music Service said:

This event is at the heart of what Durham Vocal Festival stands for giving young people the opportunity to work with professional musicians, as well as giving them a fantastic musical experience and the chance to further develop their musicianship through singing. I hope that through this free event the singers will be inspired to continue to learn and develop.

NYCGB holds auditions for its five choirs every year. To stay informed of audition dates and NYCGB News join our mailing list by clicking on the link below.

Further information about Durham Vocal Festival.

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