FYC in spectacular voice at 40th anniversary concert

On March 9th, the award-winning Farnham Youth Choir celebrated its 40th anniversary with a concert at the beautiful Holy Trinity Church, in London’s Sloane Square. The packed concert was attended by family, friends, former conductors, patrons and alumni of the choir, as well as the Mayor of Farnham, Councillor Alan Earwaker and Councillor Graham White, co-leader of Farnham Town Council. The choir received many messages of support and congratulations including notably from His Majesty, King Charles III. 

The King would have me pass on his warmest wishes to you all at Farnham Youth Choir upon your 40th anniversary, and wishes you the best of luck for the World Choir Games later this year.

All FYC choirs

This special evening included performances from all three choirs in the FYC family – Training, Junior and Senior choirs – expertly conducted by Claire Robins, Margaret O’Shea and Patrick Barrett, accompanied by pianists Matthew Rickard and Susan Norman, and organist Brian Cotterill. Additionally, the concert included an Alumni Choir, made up of members from throughout the choir’s 40-year history, and an impressive performance by the FYC ensemble – a chamber choir made up of the choir’s current oldest members.

FYC Ensemble

FYC Alumni Choir

The programme ranged from the 1500s with Croce’s Cantate Domino to works by contemporary composers Michael Higgins and Tracy Wong, an arrangement of the folk song Drunken Sailor, a medley from Mary Poppins, choral favourite The Lord Bless You And Keep You by John Rutter, and many others – there really was something to suit all musical tastes! One audience member described it as ‘An absolutely captivating array of beautiful music’. 

A particular highlight was the performance by all choirs of the spiritual I’m Goin’ Up A Yonder, which brought a tear to many eyes, choir and audience alike! The choir was delighted to welcome back Joanna Tomlinson, FYC’s Artistic Director from 2016-2021, to conduct this poignant song, which brought back so many happy memories of past performances and tours.

Former Artistic Director Joanna Tomlinson, Founder David Victor-Smith and current Artistic Director, Patrick Barrett

FYC was founded by David and Gillian Victor-Smith in 1984, as at that time there were fewer opportunities for young people, particularly girls, to sing at this high level. Under David’s leadership, followed by Jo Tomlinson and current Artistic Director Patrick Barrett, the Senior Choir has won numerous competitions, including the prestigious BBC/Sainsbury’s Youth Choir of the Year in 1992 and 1998, as well as, more recently, first prize at international choral competitions in Provence and Hull in 2023. Therefore it was a real treat to hear David conduct the Senior and Alumni choirs in a firm FYC favourite, the spine-tingling The Water of Tyne, which formed part of the choir’s winning performance in 1992. This 40th anniversary performance was beautifully accompanied by FYC alumnus Graham Ross, now Director of Music at Clare College, Cambridge. 

“What was obvious from this celebration was that Farnham Youth Choir has provided so much joy for the audience and musicians alike. Long may this continue. Here’s to at least another 40 years!”

— Gareth Treseder, composer

Members of FYC’s Training Choir

All images copyright Farnham Youth Choir. Photo credit: @fmarshallphoto

BigGive Arts for Impact

Exciting news - Big Give match funding

We are pleased to share the news that we have been awarded match funding through The Big Give’s ‘Arts For Impact’ campaign. This campaign runs from 19th March to 26th March (midday) and all donations (up to £2500) we receive via their website during this time will be doubled. All money raised will go towards FYC’s bursary fund, which enables any young person to join FYC, regardless of their financial circumstances. 

https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a056900002SETNwAAP

Our bursary fund was established during the pandemic and is currently supporting eleven singers.  It’s important that we find new sources of support to replenish this fund so that we can continue to offer this much needed financial assistance. 

Our singers will be taking part in a sponsored singing challenge involving either singing everyday or ‘extreme singing’ - singing upside down, whilst swimming, playing football etc. etc. Do check out our social media channels during the week of 19th-26th March to see what they’ve been up to

Please note that all donations have to be made via the Big Give website in order to be eligible for match funding. 

FYC on the BBC!

Did you see the coverage of FYC on BBC News on 2nd January?

For the full article, go to www.bbc.co.uk/news or visit our GoFundMe page to help Senior Choir get to New Zealand in July!

Help FYC's Senior Choir represent the UK at the World Choir Games

In this, FYC’s 40th anniversary year, we have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent the UK at the World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand. There, in July 2024, choirs from around the world will come together in a spirit of friendship and collaboration to inspire and learn from one another. It’s the Olympics of choral singing, and inspires this, the next generation of British choral singers to achieve at the very highest level. FYC is one of only four choirs from the UK to have won gold medals at the World Choir Games in the past, and we have high hopes of success again next year.

But we can’t do it alone.

As a charity we believe that no child’s musical potential should be limited by their ability to pay. And so we ask you to help our choir to perform at the highest level. Any donation, however big or small will make a difference. You can help us to help these amazing young singers reach new heights at the World Choir Games in New Zealand.

Please click the link below to donate today, and together, let's ensure that no child's musical potential goes unrealized. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to our dream.

Thank you.

www.gofundme.com/get-fyc-to-nz

Senior Choir launches FYC anniversary year in style

Farnham Youth Choir’s 40th anniversary year was launched in style on Saturday 14th October, with a dazzling concert by the Senior Choir in St Andrew’s Church.

This musical celebration, conducted by Patrick Barrett and accompanied by Matthew Rickard, had the dual purpose of showcasing the choir’s talents alongside fundraising for our forthcoming trip to the World Choir Games in Auckland in July. We were delighted to have both co-leaders of Farnham Town Council in the audience, alongside several of their colleagues from the council, as well as former members of the choir, parents and friends.

As ever, the programme was hugely varied, with songs from the Renaissance up to the present day, and from around the world - with lyrics in Spanish, Latin, Hungarian and Malay - as well as featuring contemporary British composers Will Todd, Michael Higgins, Oliver Tarney and Ben Parry. The programme was interspersed with a wonderful oboe solo from FYC alum Amelie Budd as well as a captivating performance of a Massenet aria by Hannah Poulsom, another alum and FYC vocal coach. Current choir member Grace performed ‘Voi, che sapete’ from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and singer Maddie played an adagio by Platti on saxophone. Past and present singers explained to the audience what being a member of FYC means to them, and shared some of their memories of past tours.

All in all it was a wonderful evening with many musical highlights, as well as raising over £600 to kick-start FYC’s fundraising campaign. As a charity we believe that no child’s musical potential should be limited by their ability to pay. And so we ask you to help our choir to perform at the highest level, at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent the UK at the World Choir Games in New Zealand. Any donation, however big or small, will make a difference.

www.gofundme.com/get-fyc-to-nz

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.