The Bournemouth Symphony Youth Chorus (BSYC) celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2007. It started life as the Dorset Youth Choir and came under the direction of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus (BSC) a couple of years ago. The BSYC is one of a handful of youth choruses in the country that are associated with a professional orchestra, which provides an exciting and rare opportunity for young people to sing with a full symphony orchestra. Occasionally this leads to other projects, for example, undertaking CD recordings for commercial labels such as Naxos. In addition to these joint projects with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO), the chorus undertakes a number of other performances both in association with the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and alone. We occasionally get last minute invitations from a variety of organisations such as the Lighthouse, the Purbeck Film Festival and the BIC to provide entertainment before or during one of their events as well.

We are delighted to have appointed Liz Nayler as Musical Director.  Liz is a well known local music teacher who has a great deal of experience in getting the very best from young singers.

The 2007/2008 season was varied and challenging. We provided the children's chorus in Mahler’s Symphony No 3 with the BSO and BSC at Poole and Basingstoke in October. In November there was a performance of the Armed Man by Karl Jenkins with the BSC and Dorset Youth Orchestra in which we participated and in December a carol concert with the BSC. In the spring we took part in Kokoro's (the BSO contemporary Music Ensemble) American Music day and in the summer joined with the French children's choir Les Enfants de l'Espoir for a concert on their British tour. 

In 2008-2009 season, we are providing a wedding choir, joining the BSC and BSO for a carol concert at the Lighthouse Poole, singing a specially commissioned work with Kokoro and running some exciting workshops with Gareth Malone (BBC TV's 'The Choir', ' Boys Don't Sing'.) The BSYC will also take part in a performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion with the BSC under David Owen-Norris and in the Mayor of Bournemouth's spring concert in March.

The Chorus rehearses on a Tuesday night from 6.00 to 8.00pm at The Lighthouse, Poole. Singers aged 8-12 rehearse from 6.00 to 7.15pm while singers aged 13-18 rehearse from 6.30 to 8pm. The overlap is to enable the two sections to rehearse together. Occasionally the chorus is required on other weekday evenings or weekends for concerts and rehearsals with other conductors. There is an annual subscription charge to help with administration and music costs, with reductions for those who join in the spring and summer terms.

We are looking for singers between the ages of 8 and 18 and all voice parts. For further information contact Sue Gosling: sgosling@waitrose.com