Fundraising

Farnham Youth Choir kicks off 40th anniversary season

Farnham Youth Choir, one of the world’s best youth choirs, is celebrating its 40th anniversary! Over the last four decades, children and young people have been inspired to come together and sing at the highest level, initially by FYC founder David Victor-Smith MBE and now under the direction of Patrick Barrett. The choir has won numerous awards and performed in many of the world’s most prestigious venues.

The celebratory year kicks off with open rehearsals on 6th and 13th September where children and young people from school years 2-9 are invited to come and see what the choir is all about. If they enjoy themselves, children in school years 2-4 can immediately join the Training Choir and older children can audition for either the Junior Choir or the Senior Choir, where a limited number of places are available. The choir has a bursary scheme and is keen to include children from all backgrounds.

After that, celebrations get fully underway at our autumn concert right here in Farnham at St Andrew’s Church. Tickets are available from our website (fyc.org.uk). Various Christmas performances follow and in 2024, the choir invites alumni to join them at a gala concert in London on 9th March. The year culminates in the Senior Choir jetting off to Auckland, New Zealand, to compete in the Interkultur World Choir Games. It’s going to be an exciting year!

Co-Chair of Trustees, Melanie Hancox, said:

‘We’re so excited to be sharing our anniversary celebrations with our local community. Farnham Youth Choir has such deep roots in the town and we want to include as many people as possible in our celebrations.’

Artistic Director, Patrick Barrett, said:

‘Our anniversary year is going to be busy, but we’re very happy to have so many brilliant performance opportunities to offer our young people. It’s a great time to join one of our choirs.’

Budding singers who would like to go to an open rehearsal should visit fyc.org.uk/joinus.

Senior Choir takes a step closer to The World Choir Games 2024

The weather may have been cold, but there was a very warm atmosphere in The Spire Church at 5pm on Saturday 4 March! The talented members of Farnham Youth Choir put on a free teatime concert (plus tea and cake) in order to raise money for their attendance at The World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand in July 2024.  

The extremely varied programme featured small vocal groups performing well-known songs by ABBA and Billy Joel, alongside solo performances by the singers, ranging from Mendelssohn to the Lithuanian song Paukščiai and even a new composition, written and performed by a choir member. Also included were instrumental pieces such as Debussy’s lovely Clair de lune played by FYC accompanist, Matthew Rickard. 

It was fantastic that the concert was so well supported and overall the event raised a very welcome £1200, taking the choir one step closer to their goal.