London Youth Choirs celebrates 10th birthday at the Royal Albert Hall

Published 11 May 2023 LondonYouthChoirs.com

More than 1,500 voices raised the roof of the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday night as London Youth Choirs and guest singers from 14 London schools united in song for LYC’s 10th birthday concert.

It was a memorable occasion for everyone present, particularly for the hundreds of young people experiencing the vast Royal Albert Hall for the first time. 

Titled RISE UP, the concert’s upbeat playlist ensured a constant party atmosphere. A host of guest stars led by compere Aled Jones added further sparkle to the occasion, with feature appearances by soprano Camilla Kerslake, organist Anna Lapwood, and conductor and LYC Honorary Patron Gareth Malone – who led the capacity audience in an impromptu rendition of “Happy Birthday London Youth Choirs.”

Some 1,200 of the young performers on stage were from a total of 14 London primary and junior schools, specially invited and prepared for the concert by LYC’s schools programme, LYC Experience. 

The evening’s many musical highlights were crowned by the world premieres of music by composers Brenda Rattray and Amy Bryce, commissioned specially for the occasion and created in partnership with LYC members at special ‘compose with the composer’ workshops. 

COMPOSERS – AND SO MUCH MORE

On 9th May ‘23, my children’s song, ‘I will Glorify,’was premiered at the Royal Albert Hall! Listen to 1,500 children’s voices, which include London Youth choir members and a host of London primary school children singing ‘I will glorify’ below.

Participating primary schools came from boroughs across London that included: Tower Hamlets, Brent, Lambeth,Redbridge, Ealing and Southwark

Sooooooooo Happy!!

It’s a song about a child who struggles with his mental health and when life becomes too challenging he dreams about driving fast cars in his mind. One day, on entering his father’s car and positioning himself comfortably on the front seat, as dad turns the key in the ignition to take him to school, he switches the radio on and hears a song, ‘I will glorify,’

There is something about the melody, the chords, the lyrics that soothes him. Brings his mental anguish to peace. He snuggles back into his seat and drifts off to sleep, with the melody and the harmonies in the background, he dreams of driving his fast car…… the car in his mind …………..

What does music do for you and your mental health?

I have been asked whether I will:

Visit schools, run workshops in the school environment, attend assemblies to share why I write music ……..and the answer is yes, yes, yes!!

Get in touch and I will try to make the time to inspire your children by meeting or teaching them in person!!

reallynicepeople@icloud.com

Here is another of Brenda’s songs! ‘Reach for the positive.’ Found 3min 45seconds into the video below.

There’s more background information on the commission direct from the commissioners, ‘London Youth Choirs’ below…………………..

Published 5 May 2022

Here is another amazing commission that I have been invited to write for London Youth Choirs see details direct from their website below!

Here’s what London Youth Choirs reported…………….

‘THIS SUMMER LYC MEMBERS WILL BE CREATING NEW MUSIC WITH BRENDA RATTRAY AND AMY BRYCE – COMPOSERS WHO ARE BOTH SO VERY MUCH MORE.

LYC members will be making their own musical creations this summer in the company of composers Brenda Rattray and Amy Bryce.

The new pieces will be made collaboratively over a series of workshops at weekly rehearsals, and premiered at a special concert next year celebrating LYC’s 10th anniversary.

It’s quite the upgrade on the traditional “meet the composer” format where students ask questions or learn about existing works. And Brenda and Amy themselves are both so much more than ‘just composers’, with diverse skills, interests and activities.

Brenda Rattray is the founder of Voice Expressions, a London-based charity which exists to empower people to find their singing voice and unlock their own true self-expression. She is also an accomplished songwriter and performer, whose music expresses her  philosophy that singing is healing, both for the self and others.

Amy Bryce is a composer, curator and performer (they sing and play flute and keyboards) with a special interest in making music for non-traditional settings. They have worked with theatre directors, dancers, filmmakers to produce music in often unexpected, ever-imaginative ways.

LYC Artistic Director Rachel Staunton says:

We are so excited that Brenda Rattray and Amy Bryce will be collaborating with all our LYC choirs over the summer to write two brand new pieces of music which have young people’s voices at the centre. Our LYC members will all get to work first hand with two inspirational musicians and be a part of the process of writing new music that they will then perform together next year in our big 10th anniversary celebrations.