FARNHAM YOUTH CHOIR
A celebrated history of choral excellence
Farnham Youth Choir at Menuhin Hall, 2022
Following more than three decades of exceptional success under Founder/Director David Victor-Smith, FYC continued to thrive under the dynamic direction of Joanna Tomlinson when the choir won two gold medals at the European Choir Games in 2019. Joanna continued to connect and inspire our young singers during the pandemic of 2020 with regular online rehearsals and a couple of virtual choir performances. The choir continues to thrive under the leadership of Patrick Barrett, who took over as Artistic Director of FYC in January 2021.
At the heart of FYC, Farnham Youth Choir is one of the UK’s leading upper voice choirs for 11-18 year-olds, offering exceptional performance opportunities of secular and sacred music covering many different styles. The choir undertakes annual tours within the UK or abroad. In addition, it regularly commissions new music and arrangements and has recorded more than a dozen CDs.
The FYC family has members from age 7 upwards and consists of four choirs: FYC Senior Choir, FYC Junior Choir, FYC Training Choir and the Alumni Choir.
The day-to-day running of the organisation is overseen by a Board of Trustees, chaired by Helen Cole.
Founder David Victor-Smith MBE conducts the Farnham Youth Choir
Farnham Youth Choir has an enviable record of success in choral competitions, both in the UK and worldwide. The choir won its first national competition in 1989 (at the National Festival of Music for Youth), then enjoyed international success in 1994 with victory at the Smetana Festival in Litomysil, Czech Republic.
Other highlights have included First Prize in the Sainsbury Youth Choir of the Year (twice) and winning competitions in Riva del Garda, Jersey, Montreux and the European Youth Choral Festival at Neerpelt, Belgium. Following Gold and Silver Diplomas at the World Choir Games in Xiamen, China in 2006, more recently FYC has enjoyed further success in winning Gold Medals at the World Choir Games in Cincinnati, USA (2012) and the European Choir Games at Magdeburg, Germany (2015).
Farnham Youth Choir & Alumni Choir stand alongside the founders David & Gillian Victor-Smith (second and third left), accompanist Julia Freeman (centre), Choral Director - Joanna Tomlinson (second right) and FYC Chairman, Graham Noakes (right) at the Celebration Concert, The Anvil Basingstoke - July 2016.