RSCM Millennium Youth Choir
Photo: Stuart Robinson
The RSCM Millennium Youth Choir is an exciting chamber choir, founded in 2000 at the suggestion of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It offers special opportunities to 36 young singers to sing the widest and most exciting range of sacred music to the highest standards. Residential courses of approximately 4–6 days are held during school and university holidays, and include individual musical and vocal tuition, services and public concerts.
In 2004 David Ogden was appointed director of the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir and under his direction the choir is looking forward to a diverse and challenging time, singing in some prestigious venues in the UK and giving several BBC broadcasts.
Residential courses form the basic commitment for choir members; other events are likely to be arranged in the course of the year. Please note that these courses are open only to Millennium Youth Choir members.
Joining the Millennium Youth Choir
Membership of the Millennium Youth Choir is open to singers aged between 16 and 23 years of age. Entry is by audition – you will need to bring a piece to sing, and prior to the audition you will be sent a psalm to prepare. You will also be asked to sing a short piece at sight.
Auditions are arranged on an individual basis to provide a date and venue that is convenient for you.
Send us an email if you are interested in auditioning. Alternatively, you can call David Ogden or the choir's administrator, Judith Ogden on 01275 373981 for more information.
How much will it cost?
Each course will cost from around £200 - £480 (depending on the length of the course), inclusive of full-board accommodation, all music, training and vocal coaching.
Is there any financial assistance available?
A small number of grants and bursaries will be awarded to assist those singers who cannot afford the full cost of a course.
David Ogden – conductor
David Ogden was appointed conductor of the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir in 2004. Well known for his work with church musicians of all denominations around the UK, and especially with the Royal School of Church Music, David is an inspirational teacher and musician, and has worked with many choirs in the UK and abroad. He currently conducts City of Bristol Choir, the RSCM Midlands and South West Cathedral Singers and Exultate Singers, an accomplished chamber choir based in the South West. Until 2002 he was Director of Music at Clifton Cathedral in Bristol and conducted the Cathedral Choir in many broadcasts, concerts and tours as well as weekly services. He is based at a thriving parish church in Bristol and is developing no less than four choirs there, including separate boys' and girls' choirs. http://www.davidogden.co.uk
Previous conductors of the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir
Martin Neary
The Millennium Youth Choir's first conductor was Martin Neary, who quickly established the choir's standards and reputation. During its first very successful year, the choir gave concerts in Guildford and Oxford, broadcast for BBC Radios 2 and 3 (Choral Evensong), sang at the opening of the Millennium Dome, and at the Queen Mother's 100th Birthday Tribute. In 2001 the Choir sang concerts at Lambeth Palace and York Minster, and liturgically at Selby Abbey.
Gordon Stewart
In 2002 Gordon Stewart took over as director of the choir, and directed the choir in the recording of its debut CD, A Land of Pure Delight, in the chapel of Jesus College, Cambridge. The choir also took a leading role at the RSCM's 75th Anniversary celebration week in Durham, which included broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and 4 and a Gala Concert in Durham City's Elvet Methodist Church. In 2003 the Millennium Youth Choir performed concerts at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden and St Thomas's Church, Salisbury (as part of the Southern Cathedrals Festival). In 2004 the choir travelled to the United States of America for its first tour, where it gave several concerts in East Virginia and Washington.
Further information
For more information on auditions or for any other details, please visit www.davidogden.co.uk/myc/ or contact
the Millennium Youth Choir Administrator, Judith Ogden at 13 Oak Grove,
Easton in Gordano, Bristol BS20 0LN
T 01275 373981 E myc@rscm.com