Hackney Borough Youth Choir: Yr4 – 6/7

Director: Ty Lowe

Junior HBYC was established as a progression route for Key Stage 2 singers.  Repertoire is diverse, challenging, joyful and exciting. Entry to the choir is via teacher recommendation followed by an audition. Termly invitations to audition are sent out to all primary schools in the borough and Head Teachers / Music Coordinators are asked to identify committed and experienced singers, usually who are already singing in their own school’s choirs, to apply. Auditions are friendly and informal. Pupils can join when they are in Yr4 – 6, and when they transfer to secondary school they can either continue with the Junior Choir for a further year or move straight up to the Senior Choir (Yr7+).  The choir performs regularly at both community events and large-scale HMS performances such as our annual Gala Concert at the Hackney Empire.

When: Wednesdays 4:30pm – 5:30pm

Hackney Senior Vocal Ensemble: Yr7+

Director: Ty Lowe

Senior HBYC was established more recently as a progression route for the already established Junior Choir. Like the Junior Choir, repertoire is diverse, challenging, joyful and exciting. The choir is made up of a combination of former Junior HBYC members, singers who have been referred direct from their secondary schools and singers getting in touch with us directly. Like the Junior Choir, entry is by audition, and these are friendly and informal.

Senior HBYC regularly perform. Annual events include the Hackney Music Service Gala at the Hackney Empire, the Hackney Schools Singing Festival at the Round Chapel and the Hackney One Carnival. In 2014 the choir took part in a BBC project that led to a performance at the Barbican and rehearsals at the iconic Maida Vale Studios. The performance was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. In 2018 the Senior Choir took part in a workshop at the Barbican Centre with the internationally acclaimed choir Roomful of Teeth.  The choir are regularly offered opportunities to work with professional choirs and offered tickets to concerts via our extensive network of hub partners.

When: Wednesdays 5.30pm – 6.30pm

Where: Both choirs rehearse at Cardinal Pole Catholic School, Morning Lane, E9 6LG

Termly membership to either choir costs £30 for young people attending a Hackney school, £40 for those living in Hackney but going to an out of borough school.  Costs for Pupil Premium families are £15 per term.

Both choirs are supported by our vocal pastoral team, Kelvin Ghann and Susan Brown.

To apply to join either choir, please complete this application form.

For further information, please email xanthe.sarr@hackney.gov.uk