NYC Fellowship – Teaching Mentors Partnership

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About the Mentoring Programme

 

In 2021 we expanded our partnership with National Youth Choir (NYC), formerly NYCGB, set up originally in 2018 by Nicola-Jane Kemp. This programme was brought into being to enable the young singers of the Fellowship programme at NYCGB to make contact with members of our organisation and enter into an informal mentoring relationship with generous singing teachers who were willing and able to give their time to support younger singers as they considered beginning their journey into singing teaching. In 2021, as the NYC Fellowship programme evolved, so did our partnership, and we enjoyed growing the relationship between NYC and AOTOS, adding to the mentoring scheme and bringing not only the four new Fellowship singers into our partnership programme, but also the four composers who make up the Young Composers' Scheme. The Fellowship programme for emerging choral leaders aged 20-27 focuses on four key areas of career, education, performance and leadership. Recently re-developed, it offers enhanced opportunities to develop ambitious and creative young musicians who want to become part of the professional choral network, as well as to re-shape it. These young people are future leaders in the choral world, and will benefit enormously from the collective wisdom of our membership!

Ben Parry, the Artistic Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain has this to say about the mentoring programme:

The partnership between AOTOS and the NYCGB Fellowship Programme has been inspirational to our young singers, who are on the cusp of professional singing careers in all its shape and forms. An essential part of this for some of them has been information, training and mentoring in singing teaching, and I am delighted that AOTOS has taken such an enthusiastic and proactive approach in engaging with the Fellowship.'

I am hugely excited to be in a position to work with these young professionals, and to see how we can help each other by sharing expertise and valuable experience. We can all learn from each other here and both sides have a huge amount to offer in what we hope will be an enriching programme

Nicki Kennedy
AOTOS Partnership Co-ordinator
nycgb@aotos.org.uk

NYCGB 2021 Young Composers and Fellowship Schemes

In February 2021 NYCGB announced the eight emerging musicians selected for its 2021 Young Composers and Fellowship programmes. The schemes each offer a fully funded, year-long programme of unique professional development opportunities to emerging professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds and musical genres.

NYCGB welcomes composers Kristina Arakelyan, 26 originally from Armenia, Alex Ho 26 from London, Anna Disley-Simpson 24 from Dorset and Derri Joseph Lewis 23 from Berkshire and Fellows Michael McCartan 24 from Newry Co.Down, Northern Ireland, Benedict Goodall 23 from Oxford, Shivani Rattan 22 from North East London and Elizabeth Leather 26 from Worcestershire (all pictured above).

NYCGB Fellows have the opportunity to develop a portfolio of professional opportunities and skills including observing, training and working with NYCGB staff and members across the range of its choirs and through key involvement in NYCGB’s Learning & Engagement programme. The structured workshop training on the scheme will shape the NYCGB Fellows into the young choral leaders of the future. They also benefit from a unique mentoring programme run in partnership with AOTOS. 2021 Fellows will perform as the standalone NYCGB Fellowship Ensemble and form the core of the National Youth Chamber Choir.

Now in its third year, the Young Composers Scheme champions the development, innovation and diversity of new choral music. Emerging composers aged 18-29 benefit from a range of residential courses, creative retreats, workshops, peer and professional mentoring and performance showcases along with expert advice and tuition from distinguished composers. It also provides the unique opportunity to write music to be sung and performed by NYCGB’s five choirs.

NYCGB 2019-20 Fellows

NYCGB Fellowship 19-20 Press Image. Photo Ben Tomlin
N-JK _ Fellowships 2018-20 copy

Feedback from previous fellows

Feedback from 2018 Fellows

George Cook: 'I have really enjoyed the partnership with AOTOS this year. I learnt a lot from the public workshop in Derby. It was fascinating to learn about the similar or different approaches one must take, as a singing teacher, when teaching musical theatre.'

Sam Gilliatt: 'I learnt a lot from watching other participants' sessions, both from a performer's and teacher's perspective.'

Gabriella Noble: 'It was great to know I had people to talk to about teaching and a website and resource to explore, not to mention an accreditation through membership which was helpful with my new pupils.