Gloucestershire Youth Choirs
Our County Choir provisions represent 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. After each course day there is always at least one wonderful performance opportunity at no extra charge!
2026-27 - An exciting new chapter for Gloucestershire Youth Choirs!
We’re delighted to introduce our new two-choir pathway, giving even more young singers the opportunity to develop their voices, build confidence and experience the joy of singing together.
Gloucestershire Youth Choir Academy (GYCA) is for young singers in School Years 5–8, providing an inspiring introduction to county-level singing. Through engaging and age-appropriate repertoire, singers will develop their vocal and ensemble skills, make new friends and grow in confidence as performers.
Gloucestershire Youth Choir (GYC) is for singers in School Years 9–13, offering the next step in their musical journey with more challenging repertoire and opportunities to work alongside our professional tutor team and exciting guest artists.
Together, GYCA and GYC create a clear and exciting pathway for young singers across Gloucestershire, supporting them as they discover their voice, develop their musicianship and grow as performers.
Two choirs. One musical community. A pathway for every young singer to flourish.
Vox Nova
Vox Nova will remain as an advanced level chamber choir opportunity for unaccompanied choral singing by invitation to members of GYC. This group will attend the normal GYC session but will be taken off for separate rehearsals during the day.
Performances
Both choirs will always have the same top quality performance opportunities and will also have the opportunity to pull their forces together at various times!
Course length
Each choir will meet for just one intensive day of singing each in Autumn, Spring and Summer (GYCA on a Saturday and GYC on a Sunday - from 10am-4pm), followed by at least one performance opportunity each term.
Course Fee
£28.00 per child. Full bursaries are available so please contact us on 01452 427242 for more information about applicable criteria.
How To Take Part
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.
If you ever feel like you face any barriers to joining this choir then please reach out to us. We never want anything to stand in the way of young people making music.
Click on the 'Courses and Concerts 2026/27' tab below to see the next opportunity to get involved in!
The Gloucestershire County Youth Choirs (GYJC and GYC) are 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 in a range of styles with professional tutors and exciting professional guest artists. Our choirs have 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 choirs meet for an intensive day of singing in the Autumn, Spring and Summer Terms. The choir members have worked 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
Singer and Musical Director Paul Rothwell (Only Men Aloud, Only Boys Aloud)
Singer, Conductor and Choral Director Suzi Digby OBE
Singer, Composer and Choral Conductor Olivia Sparkhall
The choir is run by our team of expert teachers and professional performers Catherine Perfect, Rob Kempner, Jeslyn Asir 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 Choirs (GYJC and GYC) are 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 in a range of styles with professional tutors and exciting professional guest artists. Our choirs have 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 choirs meet for an intensive day of singing in the Autumn, Spring and Summer Terms. The choir members have worked 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
Singer and Musical Director Paul Rothwell (Only Men Aloud, Only Boys Aloud)
Singer, Conductor and Choral Director Suzi Digby OBE
Singer, Composer and Choral Conductor Olivia Sparkhall
The choir is run by our team of expert teachers and professional performers Catherine Perfect, Rob Kempner, Jeslyn Asir 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 2026/27?
There will be 3 courses held over the 2026/27 academic year for you to look forward to. The professional tutor team will be working with both choirs and the guest artist will be attending the GYC sessions.
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.
2026 - 27 Course Dates
Autumn Term 2026:
Sat 7th November 2026 - Glos Youth Choir Academy (GYCA)
(School Years 5-8)
Join us for a great day of singing and joy with our professional vocal tutors! We'll have songs from stage and screen as well as some winter favourites. The day is accessible for everyone and will help to develop confident singers and build on ensemble skills.
Sun 8th November 2026 - Glos Youth Choir (GYC)
(School Years 9-13)
Come and join us for a wonderful day with members from VOCES8 - The 2026 Opus Klassik winner and Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble. We'll be exploring a variety of repertoire with something for everyone!
Guest Artists - VOCES8 VOCES8 - A Choral Ensemble
Molly O’Toole
Molly O’Toole is a soprano from Sheffield. Molly completed a Master’s degree in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing at the University of York, directed by Robert Hollingworth. She has performed with a wide range of ensembles such as Springhead Constellation Choir and Orchestra, St Martin’s Voices, Echo Vocal Ensemble and Collegium Vocale Gent. She is an alumna of Springhead Constellation Academy, Genesis Sixteen and St Martin-in-the-Fields’s Emerging Artists’ scheme. Molly is one of this year’s VOCES8 Scholars.
Sam Dressel
Sam Dressel launched a freelance musical career in 2019 after seven years singing with internationally-renowned vocal ensemble VOCES8. Since then, he has sung with many of the UK's leading choirs and is in demand as a singing teacher, tenor soloist, choral conductor and workshop leader for singers of all ages. With VOCES8, he sang in many of the leading venues in the UK and abroad, including: Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Vienna Konzerthaus, Tokyo Opera City and Sydney Opera House. He also can be heard in the recent Barbie movie on the Oscar-nominated I'm just Ken. He lives in Reading with his wife and two young children.
Performance 1: Sunday 22nd November - GM Winter Showcase at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham - Afternoon concert (12:30 concert with a 10am morning rehearsal at the venue).
Spring Term 2027:
We will be preparing our choirs for their concerts at Tewkesbury Abbey and Cheltenham Town Hall. Their performances at Tewkesbury Abbey (normally to a full capacity audience!) will often involve at least one piece that they will perform with one of our other top County Youth Groups, which is always a really special experience.
The Music For Youth (MFY) concert gives the choir and opportunity to impress the audiences at Cheltenham Town Hall and the visiting MFY mentors. Will we get chosen to go through to the National Festival for Music For Youth at Birmingham Symphony Hall? Let's go for it!
Sat 6th February 2027 - Glos Youth Choir Academy (GYCA)
(School Years 5-8)
Sun 7th February 2027 - Glos Youth Choir (GYC)
(School Years 9-13)
Guest Artist: Tim Rhys-Evans, MBE
Tim Rhys-Evans, MBE, FRWCMD, was appointed Director of Music at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 2020. He is also a highly sought-after choral conductor, arranger, composer and TV presenter.
Tim began his career as an opera singer, before realising that his passion lay in facilitating the best possible vocal performances from others through conducting opera, choral music and musical theatre. After a period working as the Associate Chorus Master of Welsh National Opera, Tim left to begin his own organisation, based on his passionate belief in the transformative power of music and that everybody should be given the opportunity to engage in the arts.
He created the award-winning Only Men Aloud in 2000, with the aim of reinvigorating the Welsh male choir tradition. In 2010 he established The Aloud Charity which runs the choirs Only Boys Aloud, Only Girls Aloud and Only Kids Aloud, in order to try and affect real change in the lives of young people from areas of social deprivation; these initiatives have improved the lives of thousands of children from some of the poorest communities in Wales.
As a presenter, Tim has fronted Arts programmes for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and S4C on radio and television including BBC Proms, BBC Radio 3’s The Choir, and as a long-standing member of the presenting team for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.
In addition to his fulltime role at RWCMD, Tim is proud to be the current conductor of the National Youth Choir of Wales. He is also an outspoken advocate for mental health issues and the documentary programme he made about his own mental crisis, ‘Tim Rhys-Evans – All in the Mind’, won a BAFTA Cymru award following its network broadcast on BBC One.
Performance: Saturday 27th February 2027: Tewkesbury Abbey Concert (afternoon rehearsal and evening concert)
Performance: Sunday 21st March 2027 - Music For Youth Local Festival at Cheltenham Town Hall (10am - 4pm - timings to be confirmed closer to the time)
Summer Term 2027:
This course prepares the choir for our Summer Showcase concert
Sat 12th June 2027 - Glos Youth Choir Academy (GYCA)
(School Years 5-8)
Sun 13th June 2027 - Glos Youth Choir (GYC)
(School Years 9-13)
Guest Artist: Ula Weber
“I have yet to see anyone mesmerise 250 children at a time more than Ula. From first meeting she
has the children completely under her spell, inspiring confidence & belief that they can do
something extraordinary together.”
Edward Armitage, JAM Chairman
A former “Outstanding” primary school teacher, Ula is an inspirational conductor, teacher trainer and workshop leader, whose work has taken her around the UK and as far afield as France, Hong Kong, Uganda, Ukraine, Thailand, China and New Zealand. Ula is an expert in developing choral and classroom singing and has delivered singing strategies for Sandwell and Dudley Music Hubs. Ula sings with the renowned choir Ex Cathedra and is one of their lead education vocal tutors. Along with Rebecca Ledgard (Ex Cathedra Director of Education), she co-created Ex Cathedra education’s internationally acclaimed and award-winning Singing Playgrounds project. Until recently, when she moved to Scotland, Ula conducted the CBSO SO Vocal (a 200-strong community choir run by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra), the CBSO Children’s Chorus, HSBC UK Choir and the Birmingham City Council. She is the founder and Musical Director of Echo Doliny (The National Polish folk choir) and the National Teachers’ Choir. As Head of Programme for the national choral organisation, Sing for
Pleasure (SfP), Ula organises conducting and singing courses across the UK and abroad. She regularly tutors on SfP conductor training courses and is Course Director for their annual Summer School. Ula is also Choral Programme Manager for The People’s Orchestra charity where she manages a network of 24 choirs across the UK and conducts the massed choirs and orchestra in performances. Ula
recently set up a hugely successful Peoples’ Show Choir in her hometown on the Black Isle.
Ula guest conducts at national and international events and is regularly invited to lead Big Sings
and other singing, training, and corporate workshops for choirs and organisations including ABCD,
BBC, Big Noise Scotland, G4S, Glyndebourne, Jersey Music Service, Music Mark, National Youth
Choir of Scotland, Tenebrae, Sing Up, the UK Choir Festival and numerous Music Hubs across the
UK. Ula was assistant conductor for the Young Voices arena tour and was recently shortlisted for
the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Inspiration Award.
Performance: Sunday 27th June 2027 – GM Summer Showcase, Cheltenham venue (details to follow)
Click on the link above to sign up for the courses now through our portal!
What is coming up in 2026/27?
There will be 3 courses held over the 2026/27 academic year for you to look forward to. The professional tutor team will be working with both choirs and the guest artist will be attending the GYC sessions.
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.
2026 - 27 Course Dates
Autumn Term 2026:
Sat 7th November 2026 - Glos Youth Choir Academy (GYCA)
(School Years 5-8)
Join us for a great day of singing and joy with our professional vocal tutors! We'll have songs from stage and screen as well as some winter favourites. The day is accessible for everyone and will help to develop confident singers and build on ensemble skills.
Sun 8th November 2026 - Glos Youth Choir (GYC)
(School Years 9-13)
Come and join us for a wonderful day with members from VOCES8 - The 2026 Opus Klassik winner and Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble. We'll be exploring a variety of repertoire with something for everyone!
Guest Artists - VOCES8 VOCES8 - A Choral Ensemble
Molly O’Toole
Molly O’Toole is a soprano from Sheffield. Molly completed a Master’s degree in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing at the University of York, directed by Robert Hollingworth. She has performed with a wide range of ensembles such as Springhead Constellation Choir and Orchestra, St Martin’s Voices, Echo Vocal Ensemble and Collegium Vocale Gent. She is an alumna of Springhead Constellation Academy, Genesis Sixteen and St Martin-in-the-Fields’s Emerging Artists’ scheme. Molly is one of this year’s VOCES8 Scholars.
Sam Dressel
Sam Dressel launched a freelance musical career in 2019 after seven years singing with internationally-renowned vocal ensemble VOCES8. Since then, he has sung with many of the UK's leading choirs and is in demand as a singing teacher, tenor soloist, choral conductor and workshop leader for singers of all ages. With VOCES8, he sang in many of the leading venues in the UK and abroad, including: Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Vienna Konzerthaus, Tokyo Opera City and Sydney Opera House. He also can be heard in the recent Barbie movie on the Oscar-nominated I'm just Ken. He lives in Reading with his wife and two young children.
Performance 1: Sunday 22nd November - GM Winter Showcase at Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham - Afternoon concert (12:30 concert with a 10am morning rehearsal at the venue).
Spring Term 2027:
We will be preparing our choirs for their concerts at Tewkesbury Abbey and Cheltenham Town Hall. Their performances at Tewkesbury Abbey (normally to a full capacity audience!) will often involve at least one piece that they will perform with one of our other top County Youth Groups, which is always a really special experience.
The Music For Youth (MFY) concert gives the choir and opportunity to impress the audiences at Cheltenham Town Hall and the visiting MFY mentors. Will we get chosen to go through to the National Festival for Music For Youth at Birmingham Symphony Hall? Let's go for it!
Sat 6th February 2027 - Glos Youth Choir Academy (GYCA)
(School Years 5-8)
Sun 7th February 2027 - Glos Youth Choir (GYC)
(School Years 9-13)
Guest Artist: Tim Rhys-Evans, MBE
Tim Rhys-Evans, MBE, FRWCMD, was appointed Director of Music at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 2020. He is also a highly sought-after choral conductor, arranger, composer and TV presenter.
Tim began his career as an opera singer, before realising that his passion lay in facilitating the best possible vocal performances from others through conducting opera, choral music and musical theatre. After a period working as the Associate Chorus Master of Welsh National Opera, Tim left to begin his own organisation, based on his passionate belief in the transformative power of music and that everybody should be given the opportunity to engage in the arts.
He created the award-winning Only Men Aloud in 2000, with the aim of reinvigorating the Welsh male choir tradition. In 2010 he established The Aloud Charity which runs the choirs Only Boys Aloud, Only Girls Aloud and Only Kids Aloud, in order to try and affect real change in the lives of young people from areas of social deprivation; these initiatives have improved the lives of thousands of children from some of the poorest communities in Wales.
As a presenter, Tim has fronted Arts programmes for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and S4C on radio and television including BBC Proms, BBC Radio 3’s The Choir, and as a long-standing member of the presenting team for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.
In addition to his fulltime role at RWCMD, Tim is proud to be the current conductor of the National Youth Choir of Wales. He is also an outspoken advocate for mental health issues and the documentary programme he made about his own mental crisis, ‘Tim Rhys-Evans – All in the Mind’, won a BAFTA Cymru award following its network broadcast on BBC One.
Performance: Saturday 27th February 2027: Tewkesbury Abbey Concert (afternoon rehearsal and evening concert)
Performance: Sunday 21st March 2027 - Music For Youth Local Festival at Cheltenham Town Hall (10am - 4pm - timings to be confirmed closer to the time)
Summer Term 2027:
This course prepares the choir for our Summer Showcase concert
Sat 12th June 2027 - Glos Youth Choir Academy (GYCA)
(School Years 5-8)
Sun 13th June 2027 - Glos Youth Choir (GYC)
(School Years 9-13)
Guest Artist: Ula Weber
“I have yet to see anyone mesmerise 250 children at a time more than Ula. From first meeting she
has the children completely under her spell, inspiring confidence & belief that they can do
something extraordinary together.”
Edward Armitage, JAM Chairman
A former “Outstanding” primary school teacher, Ula is an inspirational conductor, teacher trainer and workshop leader, whose work has taken her around the UK and as far afield as France, Hong Kong, Uganda, Ukraine, Thailand, China and New Zealand. Ula is an expert in developing choral and classroom singing and has delivered singing strategies for Sandwell and Dudley Music Hubs. Ula sings with the renowned choir Ex Cathedra and is one of their lead education vocal tutors. Along with Rebecca Ledgard (Ex Cathedra Director of Education), she co-created Ex Cathedra education’s internationally acclaimed and award-winning Singing Playgrounds project. Until recently, when she moved to Scotland, Ula conducted the CBSO SO Vocal (a 200-strong community choir run by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra), the CBSO Children’s Chorus, HSBC UK Choir and the Birmingham City Council. She is the founder and Musical Director of Echo Doliny (The National Polish folk choir) and the National Teachers’ Choir. As Head of Programme for the national choral organisation, Sing for
Pleasure (SfP), Ula organises conducting and singing courses across the UK and abroad. She regularly tutors on SfP conductor training courses and is Course Director for their annual Summer School. Ula is also Choral Programme Manager for The People’s Orchestra charity where she manages a network of 24 choirs across the UK and conducts the massed choirs and orchestra in performances. Ula
recently set up a hugely successful Peoples’ Show Choir in her hometown on the Black Isle.
Ula guest conducts at national and international events and is regularly invited to lead Big Sings
and other singing, training, and corporate workshops for choirs and organisations including ABCD,
BBC, Big Noise Scotland, G4S, Glyndebourne, Jersey Music Service, Music Mark, National Youth
Choir of Scotland, Tenebrae, Sing Up, the UK Choir Festival and numerous Music Hubs across the
UK. Ula was assistant conductor for the Young Voices arena tour and was recently shortlisted for
the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Inspiration Award.
Performance: Sunday 27th June 2027 – GM Summer Showcase, Cheltenham venue (details to follow)
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.
Lisa Mayo
Lisa is the Head of Gloucestershire Music and GSW Music Hub Lead on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council and the consortium.
Lisa has been involved in music, choirs and the performing arts throughout her life and this passion led her to pursue a BMus Music Degree at Cardiff University, where she was awarded the Sir Geraint Evans Prize for singers. Lisa's love of working with children through music and the arts led her to then take a PGCE in Secondary Education (Dist) and she went on to be Head of Music / Faculty Lead for Expressive Arts at Stroud High School and then Head of Music / Faculty Lead for Performing Arts at Porthcawl School, Wales.
Lisa has been able to attract a wonderful array of guest artists for GYC over the years to enhance the experiences of the children in GYC. She is passionate about inspiring young singers and loves working with the County Choirs. These inclusive and welcoming choirs echo her approach to music making.
Rob Kempner - info coming soon
Jeslyn Asir - info coming soon
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.
Lisa Mayo
Lisa is the Head of Gloucestershire Music and GSW Music Hub Lead on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council and the consortium.
Lisa has been involved in music, choirs and the performing arts throughout her life and this passion led her to pursue a BMus Music Degree at Cardiff University, where she was awarded the Sir Geraint Evans Prize for singers. Lisa's love of working with children through music and the arts led her to then take a PGCE in Secondary Education (Dist) and she went on to be Head of Music / Faculty Lead for Expressive Arts at Stroud High School and then Head of Music / Faculty Lead for Performing Arts at Porthcawl School, Wales.
Lisa has been able to attract a wonderful array of guest artists for GYC over the years to enhance the experiences of the children in GYC. She is passionate about inspiring young singers and loves working with the County Choirs. These inclusive and welcoming choirs echo her approach to music making.
Rob Kempner - info coming soon
Jeslyn Asir - info coming soon
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 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 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
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
Guest Artist - Olivia Sparkhall - Composer and Conductor
Olivia Sparkhall is an award-winning composer and conductor. In 2022 she won the Three Choirs Festival composing competition (in association with Hereford Three Choirs Festival and Oxford University Press) with Hear, O ye kings. Her music has been performed internationally, has featured on BBC Television and BBC Radio 3, and receives critical acclaim when reviewed in Organists Review, Church Music Quarterly, Gramophone, BBC Music and Choir & Organ magazines. Her music features on several albums including A Winter Breviary (2023) and Welcome Joy (2024).
Olivia is fortunate to have several publishers and enjoys an excellent relationship with Encore Publications, Chichester Music Press, Tim Knight Music, and Lindsay Music. She appears in the Kassian Choral Series of Banks Music Publications both as composer, and as arranger and editor of choral music by women from the past. She is part of the series research and editorial team for the Multitude of Voyces' Sacred Music by Women Composers set of anthologies, as well as contributing original compositions and arrangements to each of the three volumes.
Olivia accepts commissions from choirs and prides herself on providing a bespoke work written to the choir director's requirements. As an experienced conductor herself, she understands how important it is to respond to the demands of the choir, producing something which delights and inspires. She also enjoys writing to commission for other ensembles, solo instruments (including the organ), and for film.
Photo and biog: GALLERY | sparkhall
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.
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
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
Guest Artist - Olivia Sparkhall - Composer and Conductor
Olivia Sparkhall is an award-winning composer and conductor. In 2022 she won the Three Choirs Festival composing competition (in association with Hereford Three Choirs Festival and Oxford University Press) with Hear, O ye kings. Her music has been performed internationally, has featured on BBC Television and BBC Radio 3, and receives critical acclaim when reviewed in Organists Review, Church Music Quarterly, Gramophone, BBC Music and Choir & Organ magazines. Her music features on several albums including A Winter Breviary (2023) and Welcome Joy (2024).
Olivia is fortunate to have several publishers and enjoys an excellent relationship with Encore Publications, Chichester Music Press, Tim Knight Music, and Lindsay Music. She appears in the Kassian Choral Series of Banks Music Publications both as composer, and as arranger and editor of choral music by women from the past. She is part of the series research and editorial team for the Multitude of Voyces' Sacred Music by Women Composers set of anthologies, as well as contributing original compositions and arrangements to each of the three volumes.
Olivia accepts commissions from choirs and prides herself on providing a bespoke work written to the choir director's requirements. As an experienced conductor herself, she understands how important it is to respond to the demands of the choir, producing something which delights and inspires. She also enjoys writing to commission for other ensembles, solo instruments (including the organ), and for film.
Photo and biog: GALLERY | sparkhall
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.
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