Young People

We work with young people from 0 - 23 years across a range of activities, ensuring that their first experiences of choral music are as engaging and inspiring as possible.

Choral Tots

Our Choral Tots workshops provide a fun, relaxed and interactive setting for 0 – 5 year olds and their parents / carers to enjoy their very first experiences of choral music.

Talent Development Programme

Following the success of pilot projects in Leeds and London in 2023 (for 14–18-year-olds from underrepresented groups already singing in a choir), our 2024 workshops will be held in Leeds, Barnsley and London. Participants will receive group tuition, individual mentoring and masterclasses run by some of the industry’s leading experts including Harry Christophers and Eamonn Dougan, culminating in performances. Participants will be invited to put questions to those working in the industry and to discuss application processes for young artists’ programmes, including The Sixteen’s young artist programme, Genesis Sixteen. Projects are completely free, with travel bursaries for those who would otherwise struggle to attend. Long-term, this ambitious project is part of a new committed focus of The Sixteen to diversify the talent pipeline of young people entering the choral profession and increase industry representation from underrepresented groups.

Singing Workshops

Our Singing Workshops provide an opportunity for young people with some experience of singing in choirs to interact with and learn from the professional singers of The Sixteen, discovering more about performance and the realities of a singing career.

In 2024 these workshops will focus primarily on young people attending ensembles in state school choirs and music hubs. Through these efforts The Sixteen promotes the future of choral singing and helps to encourage the next generation of performers from all backgrounds, developing a more diverse pipeline of talent to ensure that future choral ensembles are representative of the UK population, and that future generations of singers will be able to see themselves represented within this artform. For workshops that take place in locations on The Sixteen’s Choral Pilgrimage tour, participants are offered the opportunity to attend the evening concert for free, with their accompanying adult getting an 80% discount.

Chorister Workshops

In 2024, five Chorister Workshops will be held with cathedrals to help raise the aspirations of choristers who already sing at a high level, and to strengthen the relationship between The Sixteen and venues on The Sixteen’s Choral Pilgrimage tour. The choristers have been chosen intentionally to support cathedrals who are working to broaden the representation of young people within their choirs, or because we feel the relationship with the venue would benefit from this added level of engagement.

Genesis Sixteen

Genesis Sixteen is The Sixteen’s free young artists’ programme for 18-23 year olds, which aims to nurture the next generation of talented ensemble singers. During the course of a year, a series of week-long and weekend courses based in the UK are led by key figures from The Sixteen, including founder and conductor Harry Christophers and associate conductor Eamonn Dougan.

In partnership with the Genesis Foundation, this is the UK’s first ever fully funded programme of its kind and alumni from the first twelve cohorts have already had much success since graduating. Many are now performing, recording and touring with professional groups, including The Sixteen.

For further information about the scheme including how to apply, please visit the dedicated Genesis Sixteen section of our website.