Gloucestershire Youth Choir (GYC)
Gloucestershire Youth Choir (GYC) represents the very best young singers in school years 5-13 from across the County's schools. By joining, you'll get the chance to take part in singing courses three times a year during weekends, working with professional vocal tutors and inspirational visiting guest artists. Each course has a fee of £45.00. Full bursaries are available so please contact us on 01452 427242 for more information about applicable criteria.
Recommendations for membership are usually made by School Music Co-ordinators / Heads of Music, Community Music Leaders or Singing Teachers - contact yours if you're interested and then ask them, and your parent/guardian, to email glosmusic@gloucestershire.gov.uk
New for 2025-26!
Vox Nova – Advanced Level Chamber Choir (14-18yr olds)
This year we launch a new sub-group for GYC members that is ideal for our older members to give them an opportunity to delve into some more advanced repertoire and diverse material. The group will also have opportunities to access peer led opportunities (including composing, arranging and conducting) as the year goes on. This group will attend the normal GYC sessions but will be taken off for separate rehearsals during the weekends.
Click on the 'Courses and Concerts 2025/26' tab below to see the next opportunity to get involved in!
The Gloucestershire County Youth Choir is a place for all passionate young singers aged 9 -18 yrs (School Years 5-13) to come together and enjoy the wonderful experience of singing together as an ensemble in a range of styles with professional tutors and exciting professional guest artists. Our choir has a membership of 60+ members. Students are recommended for membership by their school’s Music Co-ordinator / Head of Music, Community Choir Leaders or Singing Tutors.
The choir meets on a course basis, for one weekend in the Autumn, Spring and Summer Terms. The choir members work with top professional artists who have included:
West End Performer, Craig Mather
National Youth Choir of Great Britain Tutor, Robbie Jacobs
Popular Artist, Fyfe Dangerfield
West End Performer and Leader of the West End Gospel Choir, Nathaniel Morrison
West End Performer, Andy Coxon
Composer and Choir Leader, Alexander L'Estrange
Hip-hop/beatboxing quintet, 5 Mics
West End performer and singer Faye Brookes
Choral animateur, conductor and author Suzzie Vango
Jazz singer/songwriter Melissa James
Members from The Sixteen choir
Choral specialist and conductor Amy Bebbington
Musical Theatre performer and singer Iwan Lewis
Singer, choral conductor and composer Joanna Forbes-L'Estrange
Musical Director of National Children's Choir of Great Britain Dan Ludford-Thomas
The choir is run by our team of expert teachers and professional performers Luc Bailey and Catherine Perfect, accompanied by Rob Kempner and managed by Lisa Mayo (Head of Gloucestershire Music). We aim to give the singers experiences of contrasting genres throughout the year and provide them with high quality, large scale events to perform at.
2016 / 17 was an incredible year for the choir, as they performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Music for Youth Proms in November, which was a truly amazing experience. They performed the premiere of Philip Harper’s ‘Shakespearean Triptych’ alongside singers from two of our neighbouring Hubs (Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire) and a joint Wind Orchestra conducted by the composer himself, the leader of the world’s number one brass band, Cory Band. What an honour! We can't wait to make a return to the Royal Albert Hall hopefully very soon! Maybe you might be joining us on that epic stage!
GYC have also performed at the Cheltenham Town Hall, Cirencester Parish Church, Tewkesbury Abbey, Pittville Pump Rooms, Stroud Sub Rooms and have performed at the National Festival for Music for Youth (the largest youth music festival in the country!) at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, which was a great experience!
The Gloucestershire County Youth Choir is a place for all passionate young singers aged 9 -18 yrs (School Years 5-13) to come together and enjoy the wonderful experience of singing together as an ensemble in a range of styles with professional tutors and exciting professional guest artists. Our choir has a membership of 60+ members. Students are recommended for membership by their school’s Music Co-ordinator / Head of Music, Community Choir Leaders or Singing Tutors.
The choir meets on a course basis, for one weekend in the Autumn, Spring and Summer Terms. The choir members work with top professional artists who have included:
West End Performer, Craig Mather
National Youth Choir of Great Britain Tutor, Robbie Jacobs
Popular Artist, Fyfe Dangerfield
West End Performer and Leader of the West End Gospel Choir, Nathaniel Morrison
West End Performer, Andy Coxon
Composer and Choir Leader, Alexander L'Estrange
Hip-hop/beatboxing quintet, 5 Mics
West End performer and singer Faye Brookes
Choral animateur, conductor and author Suzzie Vango
Jazz singer/songwriter Melissa James
Members from The Sixteen choir
Choral specialist and conductor Amy Bebbington
Musical Theatre performer and singer Iwan Lewis
Singer, choral conductor and composer Joanna Forbes-L'Estrange
Musical Director of National Children's Choir of Great Britain Dan Ludford-Thomas
The choir is run by our team of expert teachers and professional performers Luc Bailey and Catherine Perfect, accompanied by Rob Kempner and managed by Lisa Mayo (Head of Gloucestershire Music). We aim to give the singers experiences of contrasting genres throughout the year and provide them with high quality, large scale events to perform at.
2016 / 17 was an incredible year for the choir, as they performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Music for Youth Proms in November, which was a truly amazing experience. They performed the premiere of Philip Harper’s ‘Shakespearean Triptych’ alongside singers from two of our neighbouring Hubs (Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire) and a joint Wind Orchestra conducted by the composer himself, the leader of the world’s number one brass band, Cory Band. What an honour! We can't wait to make a return to the Royal Albert Hall hopefully very soon! Maybe you might be joining us on that epic stage!
GYC have also performed at the Cheltenham Town Hall, Cirencester Parish Church, Tewkesbury Abbey, Pittville Pump Rooms, Stroud Sub Rooms and have performed at the National Festival for Music for Youth (the largest youth music festival in the country!) at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, which was a great experience!
What is coming up in 2025/26?
There will be 3 weekend courses over the 2025/26 academic year for you to look forward to.
All the courses are held in the Sixth Form Centre at Sir Thomas Rich's School, Oakleaze, Longlevens, Gloucester, GL2 0LF. 10am - 4pm
More details for each course and guest artists and will be added throughout the year but please find the key dates for diaries below.
2025 - 26 Course Dates
Course 1: Sat 8th & Sun 9th November 2025
We delve into celebrating some key moments for fantastic singer songwriters and music that is touching lives all around the world. John Rutter is celebrating his 80th Birthday this year and is undeniably one of the most successful and iconic choral composers of our era. Wicked: For Good is due to come out in November – the collective success of this musical, as well as being a box office record breaker, gives us another great excuse to explore one of it’s iconic songs. We will also be looking at an arrangement of one of the pop charts biggest hits this year to celebrate how choral music can cross so many genres.
Guest Artist - Paul Rothwell
Paul Rothwell is a tenor, and choir director whose passion for choral music began at the age of eight when he joined the choir of St. Mary’s church in his hometown of Warwick. He moved to Cardiff in 2007 to study at the music department of Cardiff University, graduating in 2010, and has since made his home in South Wales, working both as a singer and a choir leader.
As a singer, Paul is a proud member of the award-winning male voice ensemble Only Men Aloud, with whom he has toured extensively across the UK, Europe, and the USA. This ensemble, founded in Cardiff in 2000, achieved national prominence after winning the BBC’s Last Choir Standing in 2008 and receiving a Classical Brit Award in 2010. In addition to singing with Only Men Aloud, Paul sings with a number of choirs local to Cardiff, including the Caritas Consort and Llandaff Cathedral Choir.
In his role as a choir leader, Paul works with the youth choirs established by The Aloud Charity, including Only Boys Aloud. This choir, established in 2010 following the success of Only Men Aloud, aims to offer musical education and opportunities to teenage boys in Wales. Only Boys Aloud have appeared on many stages in Wales and have made a number of TV appearances. They came third in Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 and have performed internationally on several occasions.
Paul is also the musical director and manager for ’Sing with Us’, a network of 16 choirs throughout Wales run by Tenovus Cancer Care. Established in 2010, Sing with Us, created to support anyone affected by cancer, now spans communities across Wales, offering friendship, emotional support, and the proven health benefits of community music making to nearly 1000 members.
We can't wait for Paul to come and inspire us all at the November course. Paul will be joining us on the Sunday.
Performance 1: Sunday 30th November - GM Winter Showcase at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham - Afternoon concert (12:30 concert with a morning rehearsal at the venue)
Course 2: Sat 21st & Sun 22nd February 2026
Guest Artist: Suzi Digby OBE
Suzi Digby was born in Japan and lived in Hong Kong, Mexico and the Philippines before settling in the UK, in London, Cambridge and now Bath. She is an internationally renowned choral conductor and music educator. She has trail-blazed the revival of singing in UK schools and the community over three decades. Suzi founded the following pioneering National Arts/education organisations: The Voices Foundation (the UK's leading Primary Music Education Charity); Voce Chamber Choir; Vocal Futures (nurturing young [aged 16-22] audiences for Classical Music); Singing4Success (leadership and 'Accelerated Learning' for Corporates) and London Youth Choir (a pyramid of 9 choirs, [aged 8-22], serving multiple diverse communities in London's 33 boroughs). Her professional vocal consort, ORA Singers (commissioning choral works as 'reflections' of Renaissance masterworks) won Germany’s Opus Klassik for Best Ensemble of the Year, 2018. Suzi is recognised as one of the leading commissioners of new choral music in the world (with two Ivor Novello awards for her commissions).
In 2014, Suzi launched one of the finest professional consorts in California, The Golden Bridge, which commissions Californian composers to reflect masterpieces of the English 'Golden' Tudor Age and of the European Renaissance.
Suzi has conducted major choral-orchestral works with, amongst others: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, BBC Symphony Orchestra; London Mozart Players; the English Concert and Brandenburg Festival Orchestra. Suzi has conducted annually 2,000 voices in the Royal Albert Hall in a scratch Youth Messiah. Other Venues at which she has conducted include: St John's Smith Square, Ambika P3, St Martin in the Fields, St James' Piccadilly, King's College Chapel, Cambridge and (with the Rolling Stones) O2, Glastonbury Festival Main Stage and Hyde Park. Suzi is the official choral conductor for The Rolling Stones and fixed and coached 70 local choirs for 70 cities internationally for their 50th Anniversary Tour.
Suzi has been a trustee of Music in Country Churches, among other music and education charities. She is Past President of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and was Acting Music Director of Queens' College, Cambridge (where she founded the Queens' Choral Conducting Programme). Amongst many TV appearances, she was a judge on the BBC1 hit show Last Choir Standing, with over seven million viewers. She regularly adjudicates choral competitions and gives workshops and lectures around the world.
In 2007 Suzi was appointed an OBE by the Queen for services to music education.
Performance 2: Saturday 28th February 2026: Tewkesbury Abbey Concert (afternoon rehearsal and evening concert)
Performance 3: Sunday 8th March 2026 - Music For Youth Local Festival at Cheltenham Town Hall (10am - 4pm - timings for GYC to be confirmed closer to the time)
Course 3: Sat 6th & Sun 7th June 2026
Full details of course will be posted here very shortly.
Performance 4: Sunday 28th June 2026 – GM Summer Showcase at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham - Afternoon concert (details to follow)
Past Courses in 24-25
Course 1: Sat 16th & Sun 17th November 2024
Jazz Course!
Guest Artist - Melissa James Melissa James | Singer-Songwriter | Official Website — Melissa James | Singer-Songwriter | Official Website -
Born and bred in North West London, Melissa James was weaned on the soul and calypso records of her West Indian parents as she was growing up in the ‘80s, and the music of Anita Baker, Marvin Gaye and Percy Sledge became part of the soundtrack of her youth. This was subsequently enriched by her discovery of artists such as Bessie Smith, legendary ‘Empress Of The Blues’, when she fell in with a crowd of music students while doing a Media Studies course at Sussex University. Although the fire for performing rather than just enjoying music was lit it was not until Melissa relocated to Paris that she took significant steps on the road to becoming an artist. She took lessons with guitarist James Wilson and formed a trio with him and bassist Marten Ingle and began to play bars in the ville lumiere. The invaluable experience stood her in good stead for her return to London, two years later, where she kept playing in small venues before reaching a major turning point in her artistic growth.
The GYC choir will be performing with the Gloucestershire County Youth Jazz Combo (GYJC) in the concert – which will be a fantastic experience for all involved.
Performance 1: Sunday 8th December - GM Winter Showcase at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham - Afternoon concert (rehearsal from 10am - performance from 12:30)
Course 2: Sat 1st and Sun 2nd March 2025
Rejoice Your Voice!
Come and sing and rejoice the power of your voice! We will have two amazing concert opportunities following this course where you get to show off your vocal talents in two fantastic concert venues. We’ll be singing a range of repertoire from the awesome Hallelujah Chorus, a powerful pop ballad and then rocking the aisles with a hit classic from the movie Sister Act, plus more surprise pieces! We’ll also be collaborating with some of our top youth orchestras as well! We can’t wait!
Guest artist: Amy Bebbington
Amy is a passionate advocate for choral singing and choral conductor training. She is sought-after for her dynamic and engaging teaching style, and her wealth of choral pedagogical experience.
Amy has worked closely with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain as Course Director, Musicianship Tutor and Guest Tutor. She has performed in award-winning choirs and has choral works published by Banks Music Publications and Multitude of Voyces. Amy has had the pleasure of adjudicating for both the Derry and Cork International Choral Festivals, Feis Ceoil (Dublin), Choir of the Year, Music for Youth National Festival and the Cheltenham Music Festival, among many others. As a teacher trainer/animateur, she has worked for Trinity/Open University, Glyndebourne Education, Sing for Pleasure, Youth Music and Music of Life.
Read more about Amy here: Conductor, Choral Specialist & Teacher
Performance 2 Of The Year: Sunday 16th March - Music For Youth Local Festival at Cheltenham Town Hall (GYC performing at 13:30 but will be required potentially from 12-4pm – details to follow)
Performance 3 Of the Year: Sunday 29th March - Tewkesbury Abbey Concert (12:45 arrival for afternoon rehearsal and evening concert)
Course 3: Sat 7th and Sun 8th June 2025
Raise The Roof!
This course is all about feel good songs that make you smile, tap your feet and make you want to sing your heart out! Hits from West End Musicals and cinematic anthems will have you raising the roof! It’s going to be great!
Guest artist: Julia Thomson-Smith
Julia is the Director for Education at The Music Works in Gloucester and is a passionate and enthusiastic choir leader, singer and instrumentalist. Julia leads on Inclusion and Youth Voice for the GSW Music Hub and is thrilled to be working with GYC for this course.
Performance 4 of the year: Sunday 29th June, Cheltenham Town Hall, Concert at 1.30pm (GYC rehearsal from 9:30am at venue)
Tickets available from Cheltenham Town Hall Box Office - Cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk • Tel: 01242 528764
Click on the link above to sign up for the courses now through our portal!
What is coming up in 2025/26?
There will be 3 weekend courses over the 2025/26 academic year for you to look forward to.
All the courses are held in the Sixth Form Centre at Sir Thomas Rich's School, Oakleaze, Longlevens, Gloucester, GL2 0LF. 10am - 4pm
More details for each course and guest artists and will be added throughout the year but please find the key dates for diaries below.
2025 - 26 Course Dates
Course 1: Sat 8th & Sun 9th November 2025
We delve into celebrating some key moments for fantastic singer songwriters and music that is touching lives all around the world. John Rutter is celebrating his 80th Birthday this year and is undeniably one of the most successful and iconic choral composers of our era. Wicked: For Good is due to come out in November – the collective success of this musical, as well as being a box office record breaker, gives us another great excuse to explore one of it’s iconic songs. We will also be looking at an arrangement of one of the pop charts biggest hits this year to celebrate how choral music can cross so many genres.
Guest Artist - Paul Rothwell
Paul Rothwell is a tenor, and choir director whose passion for choral music began at the age of eight when he joined the choir of St. Mary’s church in his hometown of Warwick. He moved to Cardiff in 2007 to study at the music department of Cardiff University, graduating in 2010, and has since made his home in South Wales, working both as a singer and a choir leader.
As a singer, Paul is a proud member of the award-winning male voice ensemble Only Men Aloud, with whom he has toured extensively across the UK, Europe, and the USA. This ensemble, founded in Cardiff in 2000, achieved national prominence after winning the BBC’s Last Choir Standing in 2008 and receiving a Classical Brit Award in 2010. In addition to singing with Only Men Aloud, Paul sings with a number of choirs local to Cardiff, including the Caritas Consort and Llandaff Cathedral Choir.
In his role as a choir leader, Paul works with the youth choirs established by The Aloud Charity, including Only Boys Aloud. This choir, established in 2010 following the success of Only Men Aloud, aims to offer musical education and opportunities to teenage boys in Wales. Only Boys Aloud have appeared on many stages in Wales and have made a number of TV appearances. They came third in Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 and have performed internationally on several occasions.
Paul is also the musical director and manager for ’Sing with Us’, a network of 16 choirs throughout Wales run by Tenovus Cancer Care. Established in 2010, Sing with Us, created to support anyone affected by cancer, now spans communities across Wales, offering friendship, emotional support, and the proven health benefits of community music making to nearly 1000 members.
We can't wait for Paul to come and inspire us all at the November course. Paul will be joining us on the Sunday.
Performance 1: Sunday 30th November - GM Winter Showcase at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham - Afternoon concert (12:30 concert with a morning rehearsal at the venue)
Course 2: Sat 21st & Sun 22nd February 2026
Guest Artist: Suzi Digby OBE
Suzi Digby was born in Japan and lived in Hong Kong, Mexico and the Philippines before settling in the UK, in London, Cambridge and now Bath. She is an internationally renowned choral conductor and music educator. She has trail-blazed the revival of singing in UK schools and the community over three decades. Suzi founded the following pioneering National Arts/education organisations: The Voices Foundation (the UK's leading Primary Music Education Charity); Voce Chamber Choir; Vocal Futures (nurturing young [aged 16-22] audiences for Classical Music); Singing4Success (leadership and 'Accelerated Learning' for Corporates) and London Youth Choir (a pyramid of 9 choirs, [aged 8-22], serving multiple diverse communities in London's 33 boroughs). Her professional vocal consort, ORA Singers (commissioning choral works as 'reflections' of Renaissance masterworks) won Germany’s Opus Klassik for Best Ensemble of the Year, 2018. Suzi is recognised as one of the leading commissioners of new choral music in the world (with two Ivor Novello awards for her commissions).
In 2014, Suzi launched one of the finest professional consorts in California, The Golden Bridge, which commissions Californian composers to reflect masterpieces of the English 'Golden' Tudor Age and of the European Renaissance.
Suzi has conducted major choral-orchestral works with, amongst others: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, BBC Symphony Orchestra; London Mozart Players; the English Concert and Brandenburg Festival Orchestra. Suzi has conducted annually 2,000 voices in the Royal Albert Hall in a scratch Youth Messiah. Other Venues at which she has conducted include: St John's Smith Square, Ambika P3, St Martin in the Fields, St James' Piccadilly, King's College Chapel, Cambridge and (with the Rolling Stones) O2, Glastonbury Festival Main Stage and Hyde Park. Suzi is the official choral conductor for The Rolling Stones and fixed and coached 70 local choirs for 70 cities internationally for their 50th Anniversary Tour.
Suzi has been a trustee of Music in Country Churches, among other music and education charities. She is Past President of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and was Acting Music Director of Queens' College, Cambridge (where she founded the Queens' Choral Conducting Programme). Amongst many TV appearances, she was a judge on the BBC1 hit show Last Choir Standing, with over seven million viewers. She regularly adjudicates choral competitions and gives workshops and lectures around the world.
In 2007 Suzi was appointed an OBE by the Queen for services to music education.
Performance 2: Saturday 28th February 2026: Tewkesbury Abbey Concert (afternoon rehearsal and evening concert)
Performance 3: Sunday 8th March 2026 - Music For Youth Local Festival at Cheltenham Town Hall (10am - 4pm - timings for GYC to be confirmed closer to the time)
Course 3: Sat 6th & Sun 7th June 2026
Full details of course will be posted here very shortly.
Performance 4: Sunday 28th June 2026 – GM Summer Showcase at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham - Afternoon concert (details to follow)
Past Courses in 24-25
Course 1: Sat 16th & Sun 17th November 2024
Jazz Course!
Guest Artist - Melissa James Melissa James | Singer-Songwriter | Official Website — Melissa James | Singer-Songwriter | Official Website -
Born and bred in North West London, Melissa James was weaned on the soul and calypso records of her West Indian parents as she was growing up in the ‘80s, and the music of Anita Baker, Marvin Gaye and Percy Sledge became part of the soundtrack of her youth. This was subsequently enriched by her discovery of artists such as Bessie Smith, legendary ‘Empress Of The Blues’, when she fell in with a crowd of music students while doing a Media Studies course at Sussex University. Although the fire for performing rather than just enjoying music was lit it was not until Melissa relocated to Paris that she took significant steps on the road to becoming an artist. She took lessons with guitarist James Wilson and formed a trio with him and bassist Marten Ingle and began to play bars in the ville lumiere. The invaluable experience stood her in good stead for her return to London, two years later, where she kept playing in small venues before reaching a major turning point in her artistic growth.
The GYC choir will be performing with the Gloucestershire County Youth Jazz Combo (GYJC) in the concert – which will be a fantastic experience for all involved.
Performance 1: Sunday 8th December - GM Winter Showcase at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham - Afternoon concert (rehearsal from 10am - performance from 12:30)
Course 2: Sat 1st and Sun 2nd March 2025
Rejoice Your Voice!
Come and sing and rejoice the power of your voice! We will have two amazing concert opportunities following this course where you get to show off your vocal talents in two fantastic concert venues. We’ll be singing a range of repertoire from the awesome Hallelujah Chorus, a powerful pop ballad and then rocking the aisles with a hit classic from the movie Sister Act, plus more surprise pieces! We’ll also be collaborating with some of our top youth orchestras as well! We can’t wait!
Guest artist: Amy Bebbington
Amy is a passionate advocate for choral singing and choral conductor training. She is sought-after for her dynamic and engaging teaching style, and her wealth of choral pedagogical experience.
Amy has worked closely with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain as Course Director, Musicianship Tutor and Guest Tutor. She has performed in award-winning choirs and has choral works published by Banks Music Publications and Multitude of Voyces. Amy has had the pleasure of adjudicating for both the Derry and Cork International Choral Festivals, Feis Ceoil (Dublin), Choir of the Year, Music for Youth National Festival and the Cheltenham Music Festival, among many others. As a teacher trainer/animateur, she has worked for Trinity/Open University, Glyndebourne Education, Sing for Pleasure, Youth Music and Music of Life.
Read more about Amy here: Conductor, Choral Specialist & Teacher
Performance 2 Of The Year: Sunday 16th March - Music For Youth Local Festival at Cheltenham Town Hall (GYC performing at 13:30 but will be required potentially from 12-4pm – details to follow)
Performance 3 Of the Year: Sunday 29th March - Tewkesbury Abbey Concert (12:45 arrival for afternoon rehearsal and evening concert)
Course 3: Sat 7th and Sun 8th June 2025
Raise The Roof!
This course is all about feel good songs that make you smile, tap your feet and make you want to sing your heart out! Hits from West End Musicals and cinematic anthems will have you raising the roof! It’s going to be great!
Guest artist: Julia Thomson-Smith
Julia is the Director for Education at The Music Works in Gloucester and is a passionate and enthusiastic choir leader, singer and instrumentalist. Julia leads on Inclusion and Youth Voice for the GSW Music Hub and is thrilled to be working with GYC for this course.
Performance 4 of the year: Sunday 29th June, Cheltenham Town Hall, Concert at 1.30pm (GYC rehearsal from 9:30am at venue)
Tickets available from Cheltenham Town Hall Box Office - Cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk • Tel: 01242 528764
Click on the link above to sign up for the courses now through our portal!
Catherine Perfect
(Photograph provided by Catherine Perfect)
Catherine started her music education as a scholar at the King’s School, Gloucester. She went on to be awarded choral scholarships at the Universities of London and Cambridge. After several years teaching music in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, Catherine returned to her home county as Head of Music at St Peter’s RC High School, a position she has held for the last ten years.
Aside from juggling a hectic school schedule with two energetic children, Catherine performs regularly with the renowned Birmingham-based choir Ex Cathedra. She is also active in its extensive education programme and was an original member of the innovative and award-winning Singing Medicine team which works in the long term wards of Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Most recently, Catherine was admitted as the first female lay-clerk in Gloucester Cathedral.
Luc Bailey
Luc has been immersed in the performing arts world since a young age having started out with the British Youth Music Theatre and going on to study musical theatre at college, as well as continuing his musical studies in classical piano.
Working as a freelance musician around the county, Luc has been grateful to work with many groups, schools, colleges and production companies as a Musical Director and Pianist. He founded and conducted his own Cheltenham based Gospel choir in 2015 and now conducts the Gloucestershire Police Male Voice Choir and the Whiteshill & Ruscombe Community Choir based in Stroud. He has worked on in-house professional productions at the Everyman Theatre as Musical Director and also with the theatre’s performing arts students from Stagedoor Learning. In 2019 Luc composed the music for a new production of Jamela Gavin’s ‘Coram Boy’ which was performed at Gloucester Cathedral by Jenny Wren Productions. He also is a vocal tutor and exam/performance accompanist for Cheltenham Vocal Academy.
Alongside music, Luc also trained in Ballet, Modern and Tap with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and completed his diploma in dance education in Modern Theatre and Tap Dance. He was awarded a scholarship to train further with Tap Attack and continued his studies of Rhythm Tap dancing at festivals all around the world.
Luc is passionate about inspiring the next generation of musicians as his teachers did for him and is thrilled to be part of the GYC team!
Catherine Perfect
(Photograph provided by Catherine Perfect)
Catherine started her music education as a scholar at the King’s School, Gloucester. She went on to be awarded choral scholarships at the Universities of London and Cambridge. After several years teaching music in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, Catherine returned to her home county as Head of Music at St Peter’s RC High School, a position she has held for the last ten years.
Aside from juggling a hectic school schedule with two energetic children, Catherine performs regularly with the renowned Birmingham-based choir Ex Cathedra. She is also active in its extensive education programme and was an original member of the innovative and award-winning Singing Medicine team which works in the long term wards of Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Most recently, Catherine was admitted as the first female lay-clerk in Gloucester Cathedral.
Luc Bailey
Luc has been immersed in the performing arts world since a young age having started out with the British Youth Music Theatre and going on to study musical theatre at college, as well as continuing his musical studies in classical piano.
Working as a freelance musician around the county, Luc has been grateful to work with many groups, schools, colleges and production companies as a Musical Director and Pianist. He founded and conducted his own Cheltenham based Gospel choir in 2015 and now conducts the Gloucestershire Police Male Voice Choir and the Whiteshill & Ruscombe Community Choir based in Stroud. He has worked on in-house professional productions at the Everyman Theatre as Musical Director and also with the theatre’s performing arts students from Stagedoor Learning. In 2019 Luc composed the music for a new production of Jamela Gavin’s ‘Coram Boy’ which was performed at Gloucester Cathedral by Jenny Wren Productions. He also is a vocal tutor and exam/performance accompanist for Cheltenham Vocal Academy.
Alongside music, Luc also trained in Ballet, Modern and Tap with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and completed his diploma in dance education in Modern Theatre and Tap Dance. He was awarded a scholarship to train further with Tap Attack and continued his studies of Rhythm Tap dancing at festivals all around the world.
Luc is passionate about inspiring the next generation of musicians as his teachers did for him and is thrilled to be part of the GYC team!
Thoughts from one of our newest members:
"I am new to GYC but not new to singing. I really enjoyed the Autumn workshop weekend; we learnt so much in a short time. The adults are all really nice and support you. If you are not sure which group/level to go with they find a group that suits your voice and range. I also made lots of new friends. Performing at Pittville Pump Room in front of a packed audience and a live orchestra was magical. GYC...I will return!
Milly, Year 9. Winchcombe Secondary School.
Comments from past members:
"Being in Gloucestershire County Youth Choir guarantees you exceptional performance opportunities - from the Cheltenham Town Hall to the Royal Albert Hall - you'll always be performing with either a full orchestra or a piano, giving you invaluable experience for future performances. But what I love the most about the County Youth Choir is the teachers, who from the minute you step into the rehearsal room greet you with professionalism yet still managing to keep the feeling of inclusiveness- it really is a family atmosphere where everyone will feel welcome! I love how one minute we can be singing Rutter and the next minute singing a gospel cover of a pop song- you get the chance to experiment with your own voice and really gain an understanding of how to make it work for anything that is thrown at you."
"I was really proud to have been selected by my music teacher to represent Kingshill School in GYC. It was a great experience because we got to stretch out of our vocal comfort zones and try gospel music and ended up loving it! We were really lucky to be mentored by West End star Nathaniel Morrison who was truly inspirational and great fun to work with.
I met lots of people from different schools and even made some new friends along the way. The concert that we took part in at Cheltenham Town Hall was fabulous. It felt amazing to be taking part in an event where there were so many talented young people. I can't wait until we all get together again."
Thoughts from one of our newest members:
"I am new to GYC but not new to singing. I really enjoyed the Autumn workshop weekend; we learnt so much in a short time. The adults are all really nice and support you. If you are not sure which group/level to go with they find a group that suits your voice and range. I also made lots of new friends. Performing at Pittville Pump Room in front of a packed audience and a live orchestra was magical. GYC...I will return!
Milly, Year 9. Winchcombe Secondary School.
Comments from past members:
"Being in Gloucestershire County Youth Choir guarantees you exceptional performance opportunities - from the Cheltenham Town Hall to the Royal Albert Hall - you'll always be performing with either a full orchestra or a piano, giving you invaluable experience for future performances. But what I love the most about the County Youth Choir is the teachers, who from the minute you step into the rehearsal room greet you with professionalism yet still managing to keep the feeling of inclusiveness- it really is a family atmosphere where everyone will feel welcome! I love how one minute we can be singing Rutter and the next minute singing a gospel cover of a pop song- you get the chance to experiment with your own voice and really gain an understanding of how to make it work for anything that is thrown at you."
"I was really proud to have been selected by my music teacher to represent Kingshill School in GYC. It was a great experience because we got to stretch out of our vocal comfort zones and try gospel music and ended up loving it! We were really lucky to be mentored by West End star Nathaniel Morrison who was truly inspirational and great fun to work with.
I met lots of people from different schools and even made some new friends along the way. The concert that we took part in at Cheltenham Town Hall was fabulous. It felt amazing to be taking part in an event where there were so many talented young people. I can't wait until we all get together again."
Thoughts from one of our newest members:
"I am new to GYC but not new to singing. I really enjoyed the Autumn workshop weekend; we learnt so much in a short time. The adults are all really nice and support you. If you are not sure which group/level to go with they find a group that suits your voice and range. I also made lots of new friends. Performing at Pittville Pump Room in front of a packed audience and a live orchestra was magical. GYC...I will return!
Milly, Year 9. Winchcombe Secondary School.
Comments from past members:
"Being in Gloucestershire County Youth Choir guarantees you exceptional performance opportunities - from the Cheltenham Town Hall to the Royal Albert Hall - you'll always be performing with either a full orchestra or a piano, giving you invaluable experience for future performances. But what I love the most about the County Youth Choir is the teachers, who from the minute you step into the rehearsal room greet you with professionalism yet still managing to keep the feeling of inclusiveness- it really is a family atmosphere where everyone will feel welcome! I love how one minute we can be singing Rutter and the next minute singing a gospel cover of a pop song- you get the chance to experiment with your own voice and really gain an understanding of how to make it work for anything that is thrown at you."
"I was really proud to have been selected by my music teacher to represent Kingshill School in GYC. It was a great experience because we got to stretch out of our vocal comfort zones and try gospel music and ended up loving it! We were really lucky to be mentored by West End star Nathaniel Morrison who was truly inspirational and great fun to work with.
I met lots of people from different schools and even made some new friends along the way. The concert that we took part in at Cheltenham Town Hall was fabulous. It felt amazing to be taking part in an event where there were so many talented young people. I can't wait until we all get together again."
Thoughts from one of our newest members:
"I am new to GYC but not new to singing. I really enjoyed the Autumn workshop weekend; we learnt so much in a short time. The adults are all really nice and support you. If you are not sure which group/level to go with they find a group that suits your voice and range. I also made lots of new friends. Performing at Pittville Pump Room in front of a packed audience and a live orchestra was magical. GYC...I will return!
Milly, Year 9. Winchcombe Secondary School.
Comments from past members:
"Being in Gloucestershire County Youth Choir guarantees you exceptional performance opportunities - from the Cheltenham Town Hall to the Royal Albert Hall - you'll always be performing with either a full orchestra or a piano, giving you invaluable experience for future performances. But what I love the most about the County Youth Choir is the teachers, who from the minute you step into the rehearsal room greet you with professionalism yet still managing to keep the feeling of inclusiveness- it really is a family atmosphere where everyone will feel welcome! I love how one minute we can be singing Rutter and the next minute singing a gospel cover of a pop song- you get the chance to experiment with your own voice and really gain an understanding of how to make it work for anything that is thrown at you."
"I was really proud to have been selected by my music teacher to represent Kingshill School in GYC. It was a great experience because we got to stretch out of our vocal comfort zones and try gospel music and ended up loving it! We were really lucky to be mentored by West End star Nathaniel Morrison who was truly inspirational and great fun to work with.
I met lots of people from different schools and even made some new friends along the way. The concert that we took part in at Cheltenham Town Hall was fabulous. It felt amazing to be taking part in an event where there were so many talented young people. I can't wait until we all get together again."
Thoughts from one of our newest members:
"I am new to GYC but not new to singing. I really enjoyed the Autumn workshop weekend; we learnt so much in a short time. The adults are all really nice and support you. If you are not sure which group/level to go with they find a group that suits your voice and range. I also made lots of new friends. Performing at Pittville Pump Room in front of a packed audience and a live orchestra was magical. GYC...I will return!
Milly, Year 9. Winchcombe Secondary School.
Comments from past members:
"Being in Gloucestershire County Youth Choir guarantees you exceptional performance opportunities - from the Cheltenham Town Hall to the Royal Albert Hall - you'll always be performing with either a full orchestra or a piano, giving you invaluable experience for future performances. But what I love the most about the County Youth Choir is the teachers, who from the minute you step into the rehearsal room greet you with professionalism yet still managing to keep the feeling of inclusiveness- it really is a family atmosphere where everyone will feel welcome! I love how one minute we can be singing Rutter and the next minute singing a gospel cover of a pop song- you get the chance to experiment with your own voice and really gain an understanding of how to make it work for anything that is thrown at you."
"I was really proud to have been selected by my music teacher to represent Kingshill School in GYC. It was a great experience because we got to stretch out of our vocal comfort zones and try gospel music and ended up loving it! We were really lucky to be mentored by West End star Nathaniel Morrison who was truly inspirational and great fun to work with.
I met lots of people from different schools and even made some new friends along the way. The concert that we took part in at Cheltenham Town Hall was fabulous. It felt amazing to be taking part in an event where there were so many talented young people. I can't wait until we all get together again."
Thoughts from one of our newest members:
"I am new to GYC but not new to singing. I really enjoyed the Autumn workshop weekend; we learnt so much in a short time. The adults are all really nice and support you. If you are not sure which group/level to go with they find a group that suits your voice and range. I also made lots of new friends. Performing at Pittville Pump Room in front of a packed audience and a live orchestra was magical. GYC...I will return!
Milly, Year 9. Winchcombe Secondary School.
Comments from past members:
"Being in Gloucestershire County Youth Choir guarantees you exceptional performance opportunities - from the Cheltenham Town Hall to the Royal Albert Hall - you'll always be performing with either a full orchestra or a piano, giving you invaluable experience for future performances. But what I love the most about the County Youth Choir is the teachers, who from the minute you step into the rehearsal room greet you with professionalism yet still managing to keep the feeling of inclusiveness- it really is a family atmosphere where everyone will feel welcome! I love how one minute we can be singing Rutter and the next minute singing a gospel cover of a pop song- you get the chance to experiment with your own voice and really gain an understanding of how to make it work for anything that is thrown at you."
"I was really proud to have been selected by my music teacher to represent Kingshill School in GYC. It was a great experience because we got to stretch out of our vocal comfort zones and try gospel music and ended up loving it! We were really lucky to be mentored by West End star Nathaniel Morrison who was truly inspirational and great fun to work with.
I met lots of people from different schools and even made some new friends along the way. The concert that we took part in at Cheltenham Town Hall was fabulous. It felt amazing to be taking part in an event where there were so many talented young people. I can't wait until we all get together again."
Thoughts from one of our newest members:
"I am new to GYC but not new to singing. I really enjoyed the Autumn workshop weekend; we learnt so much in a short time. The adults are all really nice and support you. If you are not sure which group/level to go with they find a group that suits your voice and range. I also made lots of new friends. Performing at Pittville Pump Room in front of a packed audience and a live orchestra was magical. GYC...I will return!
Milly, Year 9. Winchcombe Secondary School.
Comments from past members:
"Being in Gloucestershire County Youth Choir guarantees you exceptional performance opportunities - from the Cheltenham Town Hall to the Royal Albert Hall - you'll always be performing with either a full orchestra or a piano, giving you invaluable experience for future performances. But what I love the most about the County Youth Choir is the teachers, who from the minute you step into the rehearsal room greet you with professionalism yet still managing to keep the feeling of inclusiveness- it really is a family atmosphere where everyone will feel welcome! I love how one minute we can be singing Rutter and the next minute singing a gospel cover of a pop song- you get the chance to experiment with your own voice and really gain an understanding of how to make it work for anything that is thrown at you."
"I was really proud to have been selected by my music teacher to represent Kingshill School in GYC. It was a great experience because we got to stretch out of our vocal comfort zones and try gospel music and ended up loving it! We were really lucky to be mentored by West End star Nathaniel Morrison who was truly inspirational and great fun to work with.
I met lots of people from different schools and even made some new friends along the way. The concert that we took part in at Cheltenham Town Hall was fabulous. It felt amazing to be taking part in an event where there were so many talented young people. I can't wait until we all get together again."
Thoughts from one of our newest members:
"I am new to GYC but not new to singing. I really enjoyed the Autumn workshop weekend; we learnt so much in a short time. The adults are all really nice and support you. If you are not sure which group/level to go with they find a group that suits your voice and range. I also made lots of new friends. Performing at Pittville Pump Room in front of a packed audience and a live orchestra was magical. GYC...I will return!
Milly, Year 9. Winchcombe Secondary School.
Comments from past members:
"Being in Gloucestershire County Youth Choir guarantees you exceptional performance opportunities - from the Cheltenham Town Hall to the Royal Albert Hall - you'll always be performing with either a full orchestra or a piano, giving you invaluable experience for future performances. But what I love the most about the County Youth Choir is the teachers, who from the minute you step into the rehearsal room greet you with professionalism yet still managing to keep the feeling of inclusiveness- it really is a family atmosphere where everyone will feel welcome! I love how one minute we can be singing Rutter and the next minute singing a gospel cover of a pop song- you get the chance to experiment with your own voice and really gain an understanding of how to make it work for anything that is thrown at you."
"I was really proud to have been selected by my music teacher to represent Kingshill School in GYC. It was a great experience because we got to stretch out of our vocal comfort zones and try gospel music and ended up loving it! We were really lucky to be mentored by West End star Nathaniel Morrison who was truly inspirational and great fun to work with.
I met lots of people from different schools and even made some new friends along the way. The concert that we took part in at Cheltenham Town Hall was fabulous. It felt amazing to be taking part in an event where there were so many talented young people. I can't wait until we all get together again."
GYC's Lockdown Virtual Performance 2020 - 'Walking on Sunshine!'
GYC's 2 Day Songwriting Course January 2020 - 'Rise Up With Me'
Here are some videos from the choir’s performance at the Music For Youth Regional Festival 2018 - held at Cheltenham Town Hall:
You can keep up to date with what the choir are up to by liking and following our Gloucestershire Music Facebook page @glosmusic / Instagram @gloucestershiremusic
GYC's Lockdown Virtual Performance 2020 - 'Walking on Sunshine!'
GYC's 2 Day Songwriting Course January 2020 - 'Rise Up With Me'
Here are some videos from the choir’s performance at the Music For Youth Regional Festival 2018 - held at Cheltenham Town Hall:
You can keep up to date with what the choir are up to by liking and following our Gloucestershire Music Facebook page @glosmusic / Instagram @gloucestershiremusic
What courses did we run in 2023/24?
Past Courses, Performances and Guest Artists in 2023/24
We will be running 3 weekend courses over the 2023/24 academic year.
All the courses are held in the Sixth Form Centre at Sir Thomas Rich's School, Oakleaze, Longlevens, Gloucester, GL2 0LF
Course 1: Sat 14th & Sun 15th October 2023
Guest Artists: Three representatives from ‘The Sixteen’ Homepage - The Sixteen – A fantastic choral animateur (Isobel Chesman), and two other professional singers (Molly Cochrane and Lydia Wonham) from this amazing world renowned choir, will join us on one of the course days to lead workshops and teach the choir a new piece of music. They will also be performing some repertoire to inspire our choir members. Each professional will sing with them in their sections to help our GYC members continue to develop a truly wonderful choral sound. We can’t wait!
Find out more about Isobel Chesman:
Isobel began her singing career as a chorister; an opportunity to which she credits a blossoming career in education, vocal health, and vocal performance. Isobel attended Newcastle University to read her BA (Hons) Music with specialist studies in Vocal Performance and Vocal Health and Pedagogy, and a choral scholarship at Newcastle Cathedral. Whilst at university, Isobel also took part in the VOCES8 Scholarship Programme, Samling Young Artist Programme, and Genesis Sixteen Programme with Harry Christophers CBE. In 2020 she graduated from UCL Institute of Education with a PGCE in Secondary Music, and taught in secondary schools while developing a private client base as a vocal coach. Isobel now works for music education hubs as a choral animateur, vocal coach, and curriculum music provider in schools across Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, for the Lichfield Cathedral MusicShare programme, and for The Sixteen. Alongside her work in education, she is a Lay Clerk at Derby Cathedral, and has recently completed her MSc in Performance Science at the Royal College of Music in London with a distinction thesis on the vocal health of cathedral lay clerks. Isobel studied voice with Gaynor Rodway at home in Lincolnshire and Giles Underwood in London, and will be moving to Gloucestershire in January 2024.
Find out more about Molly Cochrane:
Molly Cochrane was born and brought up in Wakefield, and became a chorister at the city's cathedral aged nine. During her time as a chorister Molly sang as a member of the Diamond Choir for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and was a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year competitions in both 2013 and 2014. Molly studied for her A levels at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester under the tutelage of Diana Palmerston.
In 2017 Molly took up a place at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, studying with Joan Rodgers CBE. She performed in many concerts with the Conservatoire Chamber Choir, led by Stephen Jackson, and the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir, conductor Ralph Allwood MBE. After graduating with a First-Class Honours degree, Molly completed a year as Choral Scholar at St Martin-in-the-Fields. She was a member of the 2021-2022 Genesis Sixteen Consort led by Eamonn Dougan and Harry Christophers CBE, performing Handel’s Messiah with The Sixteen in the December of that year. Molly now enjoys a career as a freelance musician, regularly performing across London as both a choral singer and soloist. Recent highlights include performing Goodall’s Eternal Light and Handel’s Messiah as soprano soloist for Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir. In her spare time Molly enjoys listening to musicals and spending time with her cat Finzi.
Find out more about Lydia Wonham:
Lydia is a soprano and educator who graduated with a First Class BMus Hons degree in Vocal and Opera studies from the Royal Northern College of Music, completed the Genesis Sixteen and VOCES8 Scholars programmes in 2022, and now delivers projects for young people in the UK and France as one of VOCES8’s Education Leaders. She is particularly interested in engaging new audiences, exploring genres and understanding music in its cultural contexts. Lydia is a founding member of The Apex Singers whose début album of world folk music won two CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) and was Scala Radio’s 'Album of the Week'. She has regularly sung with Kantos since 2017 (with whom she recorded ClassicFM favourite ‘Requiem for My Mother’ by Rebecca Dale), recently held a Choral Scholarship with SMITF's HeartEdge Manchester, and enjoys using her French and Norwegian to offer language coaching.
GYC Performance – GM Winter Showcase Concert – Sunday 3rd December 2023 – Pittville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham
Course 2: Sat 3rd & Sun 4th February 2024
Guest artist:
World renowned vocalist, composer and choral director...
Joanna Forbes L'Estrange!
Extract from Joanna’s website www.joannaforbeslestrange.com:
I’m a London-based professional musician with 25 years of experience in contemporary vocal music as a singer, composer and choir director. I love my work and I’m lucky that it’s given me the opportunity to travel all over the world. After graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Music from Oxford University, I joined the five-time Grammy® Award-winning vocal group, The Swingles, as soprano and Musical Director. I now enjoy a varied career performing, recording, composing and directing contemporary vocal music.
“Joanna is so charismatic I would travel anywhere in the world just to sing a shopping list with her.”
— Choir of the Earth member
This is definitely not a course to miss! We are very lucky to have this world-renowned musician and composer coming to work with the choir and I know that she is one of the most exciting and inspiring choral leaders around, so you are all in for a treat!
Performance – Tewkesbury Abbey Concert – Saturday 24th February 2024
Performance – Music For Youth Local Festival – Sunday 10th March 2024 – Stroud Sub Rooms
Course 3: Sat 22nd & Sun 23rd June 2024
3 Amazing Guest Artists:
Dan Ludford-Thomas - Dan is a conductor, teacher, composer and amazing vocalist! Dan is the Musical Director of the National Children's Choir of Great Britain amongst many other roles in the music industry! There is so much to say about this incredibly talented man and his accomplishments in the best concert halls, to our tv screens, to our universities and beyond that you must read more about him on the NCCGB website: Staff Management Team - The National Children’s Choir (nccgb.com). We are so excited to be working with him and our young singers can ask him questions at the course about what the next step towards being in the NCCGB might look like if they are interested.
Faye Brookes - Faye is best known for her role as Kate Connor in ITV1’s Coronation Street, for which she won a National Television Award but she also comes from a shining theatre career in musical theatre, including playing Roxie Hart in Chicago (UK Tour); Princess Fiona in Shrek (National Tour); Ann/Edna in That Day We Sang (Royal Exchange Theatre) directed by Victoria Wood; Liesl in The Sound of Music (Open Air Theatre) directed by Rachel Kavanaugh; Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (National Tour); Frenchy in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre). You may have also seen her on your tv screens in Dancing On Ice (ITV); Agnes Franklin in Our Girl (BBC); Helena in Atlantis (BBC)! What an absolute treat to be working with such a star – how lucky are our young singers!
Iwan Lewis – Iwan Lewis is the founding artistic director of The Barn Theatre. Having conceived The Barn Theatre project alongside Ian Carling, this former actor and Guildford School of Acting alum is a visionary reshaping the cultural landscape in the Cotswolds. His transition from the stage in 2014 marked the beginning of an ambitious journey to revolutionise theatre, not just create it. Iwan harbours a passion for nurturing emerging talent, not only on the stage but in all theatre roles. He sees The Barn Theatre as a launchpad for aspiring professionals, a place where careers soar and creativity blossoms. Iwan worked with the choir a few years ago and we can’t wait to work with this talented artist again!
Performance – GM Summer Showcase – Sunday 30th June 2024 – 11:30am Concert - Pittville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham
What courses did we run in 2023/24?
Past Courses, Performances and Guest Artists in 2023/24
We will be running 3 weekend courses over the 2023/24 academic year.
All the courses are held in the Sixth Form Centre at Sir Thomas Rich's School, Oakleaze, Longlevens, Gloucester, GL2 0LF
Course 1: Sat 14th & Sun 15th October 2023
Guest Artists: Three representatives from ‘The Sixteen’ Homepage - The Sixteen – A fantastic choral animateur (Isobel Chesman), and two other professional singers (Molly Cochrane and Lydia Wonham) from this amazing world renowned choir, will join us on one of the course days to lead workshops and teach the choir a new piece of music. They will also be performing some repertoire to inspire our choir members. Each professional will sing with them in their sections to help our GYC members continue to develop a truly wonderful choral sound. We can’t wait!
Find out more about Isobel Chesman:
Isobel began her singing career as a chorister; an opportunity to which she credits a blossoming career in education, vocal health, and vocal performance. Isobel attended Newcastle University to read her BA (Hons) Music with specialist studies in Vocal Performance and Vocal Health and Pedagogy, and a choral scholarship at Newcastle Cathedral. Whilst at university, Isobel also took part in the VOCES8 Scholarship Programme, Samling Young Artist Programme, and Genesis Sixteen Programme with Harry Christophers CBE. In 2020 she graduated from UCL Institute of Education with a PGCE in Secondary Music, and taught in secondary schools while developing a private client base as a vocal coach. Isobel now works for music education hubs as a choral animateur, vocal coach, and curriculum music provider in schools across Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, for the Lichfield Cathedral MusicShare programme, and for The Sixteen. Alongside her work in education, she is a Lay Clerk at Derby Cathedral, and has recently completed her MSc in Performance Science at the Royal College of Music in London with a distinction thesis on the vocal health of cathedral lay clerks. Isobel studied voice with Gaynor Rodway at home in Lincolnshire and Giles Underwood in London, and will be moving to Gloucestershire in January 2024.
Find out more about Molly Cochrane:
Molly Cochrane was born and brought up in Wakefield, and became a chorister at the city's cathedral aged nine. During her time as a chorister Molly sang as a member of the Diamond Choir for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and was a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year competitions in both 2013 and 2014. Molly studied for her A levels at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester under the tutelage of Diana Palmerston.
In 2017 Molly took up a place at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, studying with Joan Rodgers CBE. She performed in many concerts with the Conservatoire Chamber Choir, led by Stephen Jackson, and the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir, conductor Ralph Allwood MBE. After graduating with a First-Class Honours degree, Molly completed a year as Choral Scholar at St Martin-in-the-Fields. She was a member of the 2021-2022 Genesis Sixteen Consort led by Eamonn Dougan and Harry Christophers CBE, performing Handel’s Messiah with The Sixteen in the December of that year. Molly now enjoys a career as a freelance musician, regularly performing across London as both a choral singer and soloist. Recent highlights include performing Goodall’s Eternal Light and Handel’s Messiah as soprano soloist for Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir. In her spare time Molly enjoys listening to musicals and spending time with her cat Finzi.
Find out more about Lydia Wonham:
Lydia is a soprano and educator who graduated with a First Class BMus Hons degree in Vocal and Opera studies from the Royal Northern College of Music, completed the Genesis Sixteen and VOCES8 Scholars programmes in 2022, and now delivers projects for young people in the UK and France as one of VOCES8’s Education Leaders. She is particularly interested in engaging new audiences, exploring genres and understanding music in its cultural contexts. Lydia is a founding member of The Apex Singers whose début album of world folk music won two CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) and was Scala Radio’s 'Album of the Week'. She has regularly sung with Kantos since 2017 (with whom she recorded ClassicFM favourite ‘Requiem for My Mother’ by Rebecca Dale), recently held a Choral Scholarship with SMITF's HeartEdge Manchester, and enjoys using her French and Norwegian to offer language coaching.
GYC Performance – GM Winter Showcase Concert – Sunday 3rd December 2023 – Pittville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham
Course 2: Sat 3rd & Sun 4th February 2024
Guest artist:
World renowned vocalist, composer and choral director...
Joanna Forbes L'Estrange!
Extract from Joanna’s website www.joannaforbeslestrange.com:
I’m a London-based professional musician with 25 years of experience in contemporary vocal music as a singer, composer and choir director. I love my work and I’m lucky that it’s given me the opportunity to travel all over the world. After graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Music from Oxford University, I joined the five-time Grammy® Award-winning vocal group, The Swingles, as soprano and Musical Director. I now enjoy a varied career performing, recording, composing and directing contemporary vocal music.
“Joanna is so charismatic I would travel anywhere in the world just to sing a shopping list with her.”
— Choir of the Earth member
This is definitely not a course to miss! We are very lucky to have this world-renowned musician and composer coming to work with the choir and I know that she is one of the most exciting and inspiring choral leaders around, so you are all in for a treat!
Performance – Tewkesbury Abbey Concert – Saturday 24th February 2024
Performance – Music For Youth Local Festival – Sunday 10th March 2024 – Stroud Sub Rooms
Course 3: Sat 22nd & Sun 23rd June 2024
3 Amazing Guest Artists:
Dan Ludford-Thomas - Dan is a conductor, teacher, composer and amazing vocalist! Dan is the Musical Director of the National Children's Choir of Great Britain amongst many other roles in the music industry! There is so much to say about this incredibly talented man and his accomplishments in the best concert halls, to our tv screens, to our universities and beyond that you must read more about him on the NCCGB website: Staff Management Team - The National Children’s Choir (nccgb.com). We are so excited to be working with him and our young singers can ask him questions at the course about what the next step towards being in the NCCGB might look like if they are interested.
Faye Brookes - Faye is best known for her role as Kate Connor in ITV1’s Coronation Street, for which she won a National Television Award but she also comes from a shining theatre career in musical theatre, including playing Roxie Hart in Chicago (UK Tour); Princess Fiona in Shrek (National Tour); Ann/Edna in That Day We Sang (Royal Exchange Theatre) directed by Victoria Wood; Liesl in The Sound of Music (Open Air Theatre) directed by Rachel Kavanaugh; Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (National Tour); Frenchy in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre). You may have also seen her on your tv screens in Dancing On Ice (ITV); Agnes Franklin in Our Girl (BBC); Helena in Atlantis (BBC)! What an absolute treat to be working with such a star – how lucky are our young singers!
Iwan Lewis – Iwan Lewis is the founding artistic director of The Barn Theatre. Having conceived The Barn Theatre project alongside Ian Carling, this former actor and Guildford School of Acting alum is a visionary reshaping the cultural landscape in the Cotswolds. His transition from the stage in 2014 marked the beginning of an ambitious journey to revolutionise theatre, not just create it. Iwan harbours a passion for nurturing emerging talent, not only on the stage but in all theatre roles. He sees The Barn Theatre as a launchpad for aspiring professionals, a place where careers soar and creativity blossoms. Iwan worked with the choir a few years ago and we can’t wait to work with this talented artist again!
Performance – GM Summer Showcase – Sunday 30th June 2024 – 11:30am Concert - Pittville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham
Last reviewed: