BBC Radio Ulster's School Choir of the Year returns
The BBC Radio Ulster School Choir Of The Year is set to return to the airwaves next year, it was announced today (Monday 24 October).
Published: 24 October 2016
I suspect we will have even more schools participate this year in the BBC Radio Ulster School Choir of the Year which should make for a thrilling final.
Following on from the huge success of the second series earlier this year, the search to find the very best primary and post-primary school choirs in Northern Ireland will continue in 2017.
Presented by John Toal and Kerry McLean, The BBC Radio Ulster School Choir Of The Year is organised in association with the Ulster Youth Choir and supported by the Arts Council Of Northern Ireland (ACNI).
This year’s winners Dalriada School, Ballymoney and St Patrick’s Primary School, Drumgreenagh, Rathfriland beat off strong competition from 62 other competing choirs to perform in a live final in the Ulster Hall in April. Since then both choirs have been featuring across a range of BBC Radio Ulster’s programming and events.
BBC Radio Ulster School Choir Of The Year is part of the BBC Music initiative supporting local talent alongside a wave of new programmes, innovative partnerships and ground-breaking music initiatives.
Fergus Keeling, Head of Radio, BBC Northern Ireland says: “Once again BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle is proud to be at the forefront of showcasing and developing new, young musical talent. I suspect we will have even more schools participate this year in the BBC Radio Ulster School Choir of the Year which should make for a thrilling final.”
Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, says: “The Arts Council is delighted to support the third year of the BBC Radio Ulster School Choir Of The Year in association with The Ulster Youth Choir. One of the Arts Council’s main aims is to encourage more people to engage with the arts and the School Choir Of The Year offers a fantastic opportunity for schools to get involved in the arts, nurturing a love of music in our young people. I would encourage all schools across the region to get involved in the 2017 series which promises to be every bit as exciting as the last two.”
Shane Farren, Manager, Ulster Youth Choir, says: “UYC is delighted the prestigious BBC Radio Ulster School Choir of the Year will run again in 2017. The standard of choral singing in our schools is exceptional and this it provides a perfect platform for young singers in Northern Ireland.”
Details on how to enter BBC Radio Ulster School Choir Of The Year and full terms and conditions can be found at: www.bbc.co.uk/schoolchoiroftheyear
Entries are invited from all primary and post primary schools in Northern Ireland only. There will be two age categories: Primary Schools up to and including 11 years of age and Post Primary Schools up to and including 19 years of age (The children’s ages are taken to be as on 1 September 2016). The maximum number of choir members is 60 and teachers may not form part of the school choir.
Initial entry will entail submission of a CD/DVD or MP3 recording of their choir singing two contrasting pieces of their choice. The pieces can be either accompanied or unaccompanied. The combined recordings must not exceed eight minutes.
Hard copies of CDs/MP3s (two copies) should be sent clearly marked to: BBC Radio Ulster School Choir of the Year, Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, BT2 8HQ. Entries are to be received by Monday 19 December 2016 at midday, and those shortlisted will be notified in early January 2017.
Recordings of the choir must be of one take. Entries showing evidence of editing or digital enhancement such as layering and the use of auto-tuning will be disqualified. If a school chooses to use pre-recorded accompaniment this must be purely instrumental and not contain any vocals. Recordings must be of the current school choir and not of choir members who have now left the school.
CC
