Halifax Young Singers is described by Dr Gordon Stewart as "one of the great youth choirs in Britain" and of our recent performances in the National Festival of Music for Youth the well-respected adjudictors Keith Hewson and Damian Harron wrote "This is a first rate choir who obviously enjoys their singing and performance", "Well done for performing such challenging but fantastic repertoire – this has energy and unlimited enthusiasm – but wonderful poise and assurance – intense focus! Wow!", "This is difficult music, but you meet the challenges with confidence in your abilities" and "This is a high quality youth choir who obviously enjoys the art of performing. I really enjoyed your performance!"

We would be delighted to welcome new members to help build on our success and sing with us. Our eighteenth season begins on Thursday 3rd September. Our rehearsals are held every Thursday during Calderdale school terms and we extend a warm invitation to new singers to join us for a few rehearsals to see the choir "in action". The Youth Choir, for singers in school years 5-8, meets from 6.45pm to 8.00pm and the Chamber Choir, for singers in years 9 and above, meets from 8.00pm to 9.30pm. Rehearsals are held at Carlton United Reformed Church, Carlton Street, Halifax.

During our new season we are delighted once again to be offering wonderful musical opportunities for members of the choir, and forging further links with young people from musical groups in this area.

As the adjudictions from the National Festival show HYS is a group of young people who truly captivate their audiences and is an organisation which brings out the very best in its young singers in so many ways. The quality of the choir’s performances comes from the expert leadership of Lynn Hudson and Craig Cockerill, our Music Team, and from our members, whose enjoyment of their singing is evident to audiences in this country and abroad.

2009-2010 SEASON

The choir’s eighteenth season begins on Thursday 3rd September with rehearsal at Carlton URC, Carlton Street, Halifax.

Our Autumn Concert will take place at Carlton URC on Saturday 17th October and we then look forward to performing at New Hope United Reformed Church, Halifax for the first time on Saturday 21st November. Christmas is then upon us! On Saturday 5th December HYS will give a concert at Carlton URC to support HYS member Hannah Cockcroft’s preparations for the Paralympics in 2012, and then we really get into the Christmas spirit with the Kirklees Youth Symphony Orchestra on Sunday 20th December at St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield. A retiring collection will be taken for Kirkwood Hospice.

The Spring term will bring HYS together with our friends in the Calderdale Youth Guitar Ensemble. The two groups perform together under the name of ‘Highly Strung and Far2Vocal’ and will audition for the National Festival of Music for Youth in March. Both CYGE and HYS have reached the finals of the National Festival in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 and look forward to participating again in 2010. Recent adjudications have included such plaudits as “outstanding” and “congratulations, you really choose ambitious, interesting and exciting programmes.”

HYS looks forward to returning to St Peter’s Church, Sowerby on Saturday 6th February (in aid of St Mary’s Church, Mill Bank) and to joining with Skelmanthorpe Male Voice Choir for the first time in a joint concert in St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield on Saturday 6th March , with proceeds for Kirkwood Hospice.

The choir will present its own Concert for Summer at Carlton URC on Saturday 15th May and will be performing at Stones Methodist Church on Saturday 26th June .

Members of the Youth Choir will round off the season with their annual informal ‘Sweeties’ Concert on Thursday 1st July. The choir will be performing at St Mary’s Church, Luddenden on Saturday 27th June. The Choir is also delighted to have been invited by The Lindley Band to be their guests in the summer concert on Sunday 28th June in Huddersfield Town Hall.

Members of the Youth Choir will give their annual informal 'Sweeties' concert on Thursday 2nd July and all members of Halifax Young Singers are looking forward to performing in the National Festival of Music for Youth in the Town Hall, Birmingham on Tuesday 7th July.

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A REVIEW OF OUR RECENT SEASONS

Performances by the Halifax Young Singers during recent seasons have been described as:

"outstanding", "life enhancing", "a triumph", "captivating", "spellbinding" and "a collaboration of youth, good music and total enjoyment"

"This was by far the best concert I have heard".

In recent National Festival of Music for Youth heats well-respected adjudicators have said

"This is a very impressive, disciplined and musical choir. Tonality absolutely secure. Your performance of Nova! Nova! was stunning."

"You perform with clear pleasure, class, assurance and quality. Your tone and diction belie your youth."

"An outstanding performance of an outstanding piece"

"Your sound was lovely throughout - the balance was a credit to your maturity as performers."

"Congratulations, you really choose ambitious, interesting and exciting programmes. Here we have a piece composed of traditional singing, vocal and body sound effects and how well you combine them to give a compelling and musical performance."

"Impressively large ensemble. Great stuff! This is a terrific undertaking! Lovely to see you tackling demanding and thought-provoking repertoire! Very well done!"

Dr Simon Lindley describes the Young Singers as "The Jewel in Calderdale's Cultural Crown"