Where singing builds belonging: A journey rooted in Scotland, blossoming in Europe Image left to right: Freya, Vicki, Becky, Ruth and CJ backstage before NYCOS performed Mozart Requiem at the BBC Proms in 2014. NYCOS Training Choir 2005 National Youth Choir of Scotland 2006-2013 Ruth has always cherished making connections with people from different walks
Are we born performers, or do opportunities shape our journeys? Connor Going is a professional actor, singer, and musician based in London. He showed promising creative and musical instincts in early childhood which have helped to shape the person he has become. “The earliest instance of me singing was probably in our Primary 1 show.
Uplifting young voices and helping end homelessness This festive season, NYCOS alumni will once again fill the streets of Edinburgh (Saturday 13 December) and Glasgow (Saturday 20 December) with their joyful music. Former members of NYCOS are invited to sing carols together and help raise funds that will change lives through music. United by a
From youth music in Scotland to international policy: NYCOS inspired leadership through singing Isobel McIntosh finished singing with NYCOS when she moved to London after university. Today, she juggles her lifelong love of singing with a demanding role in the civil service. On top of her day job, Isobel upholds her commitment to music and
Around the World with VOCES8, Sights Set on Returning Homewards to the Scottish Stage Euan Williamson has been a singer for as long as he can remember. He grew up in a musical home and was part of his school choirs and orchestras. His love and commitment to singing earned him a place in the National Youth Choir of Scotland, having
From founding NYCOS member to inspiring musical leader Claire Christie [née Parker] was a founding member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland in 1996 and sang with the choir for eight years. She took her final bow with NYCOS during the 2004 Chicago tour and realised she wasn’t able to move on from
We’re thrilled to introduce three fantastic new team members who’ve recently joined us at NYCOS. These appointments come at a perfect time as we approach our 30th anniversary. Each brings unique expertise that’ll help us continue supporting Scotland’s young singers in reaching their potential. Welcome to the team, Moilidh, Alison, and Isabelle! 🎵 Alison Smith
The National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) has announced that one of its former youth singers, Glaswegian Kenneth Boyd, is to become its new Chief Executive. Boyd, who started touring with NYCOS at the age of 17 in 2003, is currently Senior Producer with the national singing network, and will step into its Chief Executive
As James Waters steps down as NYCOS Chair, NYCOS Artistic Director Christopher Bell sits down to talk about his time with the organisation. From his early love of singing to his role in NYCOS’ founding, James shares his journey, reflections on 30 years of incredible music-making, and what makes NYCOS so special. Plus, he recalls
We are delighted to announce two new trustees joining our board at this very exciting and crucial time. We have been successful in our bid to Creative Scotland for Multi Year Funding receiving a significant uplift in our award. This comes as we are beginning to celebrate our 30th anniversary. James Inglis CHAIR Having been
Throughout 2024, the NYCOS Creative Learning team have been running a Sing, Sign, Play project, an initiative designed to bring the joy of music and the beauty of British Sign Language (BSL) to children. Spanning three five-day residencies across Scotland, the project showcased the power of music to foster inclusivity, enhance communication, and integrate
The National Youth Choir of Scotland is delighted to announce the recipient of their Women’s Conducting Fellowship, RCS graduate Tiffany Vong.
We’re delighted to welcome a new staff member to the NYCOS team. Meet Peter Saunders, our new Alumni and Individual Giving Manager!
With the festive season now upon us and the end of the year approaching, we are reflecting on a fantastic and busy year, where our choirs were able to return to live residential courses and performances.
NYCOS is delighted to announce three new staff members to the Office team – a big warm welcome to Fionntan Curran, Rebecca Smith and Karen Steel.
A few of our NYCOS members visited Murrayfield Stadium on 27 June to promote Edinburgh International Festival’s (EIF) MACRO – a spectacular, free event celebrating its 75th anniversary.
We’re delighted to announce that Bill Dove, NYCOS Edinburgh Choir Coordinator, has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to music and young people. Bill has been involved with NYCOS Edinburgh Choir in various capacities since 1998; his long-standing service proving to be both invaluable and inspirational to NYCOS and its members.
The choir will bring its mighty performance of Duruflé’s Requiem to three cathedrals and an abbey, conducted by Artistic Director Christopher Bell
This term we have been delivering free after-school clubs across Scotland for children aged 8-10 years, with recruitment workshops in primary schools, including the stunning Wester Ross.
For the first time in three years, NYCOS National Boys Choir and NYCOS National Girls Choir recently met for their week-long residential courses in Edinburgh. Hear what some of the choir members had to say during the course and look through the photos.
The National Youth Choir of Scotland, NYCOS Chamber Choir and NYCOS National Girls Choir return to the Edinburgh International Festival.
In recent weeks we’ve welcomed our newest member of the NYCOS team, with Anna Ghazal joining us as Creative Learning Producer.
National Youth Choir of Scotland alumni recently reunited to sing together for the first time in its history. The performance will be broadcast on BBC One Scotland ‘Reflections at the Quay’ on Christmas Day.
We’ve been working hard to rebuild NYCOS Regional Choirs for ages 8-18. Thank you to Emily from Midlothian for this lovely illustration. Find out more about what we’ve been up to and how to join.
To mark COP26, some of our choir members would like to share a message of hope for a more sustainable future. Thank you to NYCOS Midlothian Intermediate Choir for this wonderful contribution.
The National Youth Choir of Scotland is to be featured in the Opening Ceremony for the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament on Saturday 2 October.
The National Youth Choir of Scotland performed at the landmark Kelpies at Helix Park, in a broadcast that aired during The Last Night of the Proms.
The National Youth Choir of Scotland will perform in several free pop-up outdoor events across East Lothian.
NYCOS Aberdeen Choir and Director Ruth Barrie were visited by STV News at their first in-person rehearsal in eighteen months.
NYCOS Inverness Choir and Director John Thomson recently caught up with BBC Alba on their return to singing. Watch more on An Là, Thursday 19 August at 8pm.
We are thrilled to announce the names of our recently appointed Directors and Associate Directors of NYCOS Regional Choirs in Midlothian, Renfrewshire and Stirling.
Following the retirements of long-standing colleagues Carole Allen (Head of Creative Learning) and Ruth Townsend (Head of National Choirs) we are delighted to announce two new appointments to the NYCOS team.
NYCOS Regional Choirs across the country have reunited to sing together following more than a year of online rehearsals. Here are a few highlights.
NYCOS Regional Choirs across the country have reunited to sing together following more than a year of online rehearsals. Here are a few highlights.
For the first time in sixteen months, NYCOS Mini Music Makers will be running in-person events at outdoor spaces in Glasgow and Rutherglen.
Members of the National Youth Choir of Scotland gathered on Calton Hill, Edinburgh at 6am to be the first to sing again in Scotland.
Watch the digital premiere of ‘Fire’ by Russell Hepplewhite and Michael Rosen and hear what choir members had to say about the song and their experience.
Friday Afternoons songs by Russell Hepplewhite and Michael Rosen will receive an online world premiere on 14 May. One of the 12 songs will be premiered by NYCOS Edinburgh Choir.
NYCOS has been awarded funding to take part in a project to support the continuation of online music education through and beyond the Covid-19 crisis.
For the first time, NYCOS is offering a series of conducting classes tailored to suit the needs of people working at different levels led by Artistic Director Christopher Bell.
NYCOS has been delivering active music lessons for primary schools over the past year through the Sounds Musical project.
Although they couldn’t be together in person, NYCOS National Choir members have met online for their virtual courses over the Easter holidays. Here’s what some choir members had to say about the experience.
NYCOS has been selected to take part in the 2021 Friday Afternoons project.
Find out what NYCOS Regional Choirs have been getting up to in 2021 so far.
NYCOS has appointed James Waters as its new Chair of the Board of Trustees. James is Director of the Lammermuir Festival, Creative Director for Classical Music at Perth Concert Hall and classical programmer at the Bath Festival.
NYCOS is releasing John Gardner’s setting of eight poems by Robert Burns, featuring the National Youth Choir of Scotland and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Here are a few highlights from our online activities this year.
NYCOS is releasing a collection of Christmas Carols on 10 December.
NYCOS has released two singles on Signum Classics featuring the National Youth Choir of Scotland and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
