The National Youth Choir of Australia brings together like-minded singers from all around the country.
Patrons: Dr David Hill MBE, Sir John Rutter CBE, Richard Letts AM
For over two decades, NYCA has operated as a nationally auditioned SATB chamber choir for singers aged 18-26. Bringing together Australia’s most outstanding young adult singers from all states and territories, they meet annually for an intensive workshop week culminating in a series of public concerts. It has focused on presenting a broad repertoire with a strong commitment to Australian choral music.
The first season of the National Youth Choir of Australia was held in 1995. The choir has met once every year since (outside of Covid) and has included seasons in Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Darwin as well as tours in urban and regional Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and New Zealand.
NYCA has performed under some of Australia’s finest choral conductors, as well as visiting conductors such as Anton Armstrong & Weston Noble (USA), Tony Funk (Canada), and NYCA Patrons David Hill and John Rutter (UK).
We look forward to an Australia where choral music is a powerful and positive cultural force.
NYCA exists to inspire and empower young Australian singers, developing commitment to music and the highest standards of vocal ensemble performance.
The Future of NYCA
Fully cognizant of the history and traditions of NYCA’s 25 years, the current Board is determined to build on these to continue to maintain and strengthen the national profile of the organisation. Singers, alumni, prospective members and contribution to governance, support and administration will be sought across the nation.
The aims for the future are:
To achieve adequate funding to ensure that NYCA builds on its reputation of choral excellence that has been established over the past 25 years.
To provide opportunities for Australia’s top singers aged 18 to 26 to work on advanced repertoire with internationally recognised conductors.
To provide rehearsal and performance opportunities at an international professional level.
To establish and maintain relationships with organisations such as The Australian National Choral Association (ANCA), The Royal School of Church Music Australia (RSCM) and the Australian Choral Conductors Education and Training (ACCET).
To engage with and attract the support of voice teachers and music educators.
To encourage composition of Australian music and provide performance opportunities for the composers.
To broaden the experiences of all those involved by operating at a national level and in all states.
To develop workshops for school-age singers and honour choirs across all states to act as feeders to the annual national season.
To foster public appreciation of choral music and increase the audience base.
To increase the membership base of alumni and ‘Friends of NYCA’ to strengthen the organisation.
To develop young Australian vocal talent and expertise to realise its potential and be recognised as a choir of international choral excellence.
To ensure that members appointed to Management and the Board of Directors have the required skills and experience across the following sectors: choral music, finance, marketing, business administration, business development, publicity and events management.
