School Choir Of The Year competition

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle is pleased to announce its first School Choir Of The Year competition in association with the Ulster Youth Choir, supported by the Arts Council NI.

BBC Radio Ulster’s School Choir Of The Year is open to all primary and secondary schools in Northern Ireland.

Primary and secondary schools are invited to submit their choirs for entry into the competition by mid-December this year. Six primary schools and six secondary schools will then be shortlisted from each county and be invited to take part in heats in February 2015 in the hope of making it to the grand final competition. These heats will be recorded for a special series of programmes on BBC Radio Ulster.

BBC Radio Ulster’s School Choir Of The Year grand final will take place in the Ulster Hall, Belfast in March 2015 and be broadcast live on the station when one primary school and one secondary school will be awarded the title BBC Radio Ulster’s School Choir Of The Year.

The winning choirs will help BBC Radio Ulster celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2015 and feature across a range of the station’s programming and events.

Fergus Keeling, Head of Radio, BBC Northern Ireland, says: “Here at BBC Radio Ulster we are passionate about discovering, nurturing and supporting musical talent and we’re delighted to be working alongside the Ulster Youth Choir with support from the Arts Council NI to launch BBC Radio Ulster’s School Choir Of The Year competition. This competition is in keeping with the current BBC Music campaign and highlights our dedication to finding new musical talent and giving them an important platform on which to perform and grow as artists.”

Shane Farren, Ulster Youth Choir manager, says: "The Ulster Youth Choir is delighted to be involved in the BBC Radio Ulster School Choir of the Year competition. This is an exciting opportunity for young singers across Northern Ireland to showcase the musical talent we have in our schools and we hope they will be inspired to compete in this prestigious event."

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “The Arts Council is delighted to support BBC Radio Ulster’s first ever School Choir of the Year competition in association with The Ulster Youth Choir. This competition offers a fantastic opportunity for school choirs to work together towards something really great, nurturing a love of music in young people and discovering untapped talent, not to mention the chance to become radio stars on BBC Radio Ulster. I would encourage all schools across the region to get involved and look forward to enjoying and celebrating the talented young singers we have in Northern Ireland.”

Schools are ask to send two contrasting performances on CD format to: Ulster Youth Choir, Millennium Court Arts Centre, William Street, Portadown BT62 3NX or to send via mp3 format to: choircompetition@uyc.org.uk

The Ulster Youth Choir will contact schools directly with information on how to submit their entry. For further information, please visit bbc.co.uk/radioulster and www.uyc.org.uk or email manager@uyc.org.uk

Entries will be shortlisted by BBC Radio Ulster and the Ulster Youth Choir.