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Barnsley Youth Choir
Senior Choir
The Senior Choir was formed in 2009 at the start of the BYC story. The intention was simply to form one choir but, with so many children wanting
to be involved, a decision was made to split the choir into two sections – The Children’s Choir (now called BYC Children’s Choir Central) and
the Youth Choir (later called the Senior Choir). Essentially the choir comprised largely of children aged 11-16 years old, although there were a few older ones. Many saw the choir as the equivalent
to a Secondary School Choir (11-16 years old) and children usually left BYC when they were 16 years old. The choir in the early days relied on the talent of a number of outstanding individuals. It sang in 3 or 4 parts and there was a small but talented boys section. The use of the Kodaly system was key to developing and nurturing the talent of these very raw singers. At first repertoire was focused heavily on familiar ‘pop’ songs that would engage children and make it attractive to join. The more confident and skilled they became the more we tried to vary the repertoire and started to sing a variety of higher quality pieces.
We have strived to provide the very best conditions possible for the Senior Choir to develop. Firstly we have been keen to work with the very best in the world. Our partnerships with the Miraculum and Aurin Choirs (Hun), Adolf Fredriks Music School (Swe) and TUKS Camerata (RSA) have been crucial. Perhaps one of the key turning points for this choir was the entry into the World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia in 2014.
This galvanised a team and brought a new level of focus and professionalism to the work we did. We became forensic in the way we learned to sing and the details really began to matter. Subsequent tours to Magdeburg (Ger), Stockholm (Swe), Riga (Lat) as well as two tours to the Edinburgh Festival have provided a real focus for the choir on the international stage. The choir is now ranked highly in the Interkultur
World Rankings following 8 first prizes in major International Competitions, including 3 Grand Prix prizes. The future
success of the Senior Choir is very obvious to us. We have invested significantly in 5 younger choirs and there are now very clear progression routes to join the choir. Those that graduate from the Intermediate Choir are becoming more and more skilled because of the quality of experience that they have been exposed to in the younger choirs and the length of time that they can now be involved.
We now have section leaders in the Senior Choir working with our younger choirs and supporting them and a number have even taken on Assistant roles and help to run the choirs.
It’s such a wonderful legacy. I am so proud of the development of this choir from its basic 3 part singing in 2009 to the complex 10 part pieces they now sing in 2019. They have learned to appreciate good music of all genres and approach their work with tenacity, good humour and a focus and commitment that makes working with them life affirming.
Mat Wright Artistic Director
BYC Senior Choir (14-24 yrs)
Thursday 6.45pm – 9.00pm Horizon Community College
Musical Director
Mat Wright
Assistant Director
Luke Mather
Assistant Director
Sarah Lucy Penny
Accompanist
Gareth Taylor
Accompanist
Rob Cooper
10th Anniversary Concerts 2019
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