Millennium Youth Choir

Auditioning for MYC
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Founded in 1999, the RSCM’s Millennium Youth Choir is a chamber choir for young singers aged 16 to 23. With a light but intense annual programme, the choir sings at cathedrals and churches across the country, most recently at Durham and Newcastle Cathedrals. The choir sings music of all styles and periods, from plainchant and the music of the Renaissance masters to Herbert Howells and new contemporary compositions.

Individual musical and vocal tuition is a key feature of courses and events, with opportunities for the choir to record and broadcast. The choir works principally with Adrian Lucas but also relishes the opportunity to work with other leading choral musicians.

MYC offers a fantastic opportunity for young singers to engage at the highest standards with an exciting range of sacred choral music in worship.

“I think I’m definitely a better musician. I think you get pushed at MYC to be better, which in a lot of choirs isn’t the case – you get pushed to be just good enough.” MYC Member

“You don’t get many opportunities to sing with so many people who are so like-minded and sing such good-quality music.” MYC Member

 

MYC Dates in 2023 – 2024

Auditions (Online)  Please contact us at myc@rscm.com if you would like to audition for the choir. Details about auditions can be found below.

Dates for 2024:

Saturday 27-Sunday 28 April – Worcester

Wednesday 28-Saturday 31 August – Norwich

 


Auditioning for MYC

Entry to the Millennium Youth Choir is via a fairly short and informal audition including: A piece of your own choice, sight reading, and reading aloud. Further details can be found below.

Check the dates above to see the list of audition days coming up. If there aren’t any dates that work for you, write to us at: myc@rscm.com.

What’s included in the Audition?

A piece of your own choice:
This should be a relatively short (2–3 minutes) piece of solo or choral music which demonstrates your vocal range well but is also appropriate to your current level and experience. The RSCM Gold Award syllabus contains examples of possible repertoire.

NB For in-person auditions: please bring 2 copies with you. For online auditions: Feel free to sing to a backing track, unaccompanied, with an accompanist, or accompany yourself. Please also let us know in advance what you would like to sing.

Sight Reading:
A test which aims to show a good level of independence in a choral situation. Whilst sight reading is an important part of the audition (due to the diverse repertoire the choir sings in a year), scores are provided in advance of residential courses to facilitate the growth of this essential skill.

A provisional year in the choir maybe offered to those whose sight reading is a little below the expected level but are eager to improve.

Reading aloud in English and Latin:
You will be asked to read aloud at sight in both languages (using standard church Latin pronunciation) to demonstrate fluency and your level of comprehension.

FAQs

Q.  Who can apply?

A. MYC is open to singers aged 16–23 who are Individual/Student members of the RSCM, or members of an affiliated church or choir. The annual programme is musically demanding, so singers at about RSCM Gold Award level (above ABRSM Grade 7) are likely to be at the right standard to apply.

Q.  How much does it cost, and is there any financial assistance available?

A. We charge an annual membership fee, which includes attendance at all the year’s events and half-board accommodation for residential courses. The fee for 2022-23 is £690 (reduced for those who join later in the year).

We can offer a monthly payment plan to spread the cost of the fee across the year as we appreciate it’s not a small sum of money to find.

Generous bursary funding is also available to apply for to assist with the cost of the fee.

Q.  I’m a student so my availability is limited – can I still join?

A. Yes! We try to be sensitive to the schedules of students across our age range, particularly during the exam season, and schedule events to avoid excessive clashes.

Q.  When are auditions held?

A. Auditions are held through the year, usually online, and place for all voice parts come up fairly frequently. We are always particularly keen to hear from lower voices, especially tenors!

Q.  How do I find out more?

A. Email myc@rscm.com for further information.