Dear Parents/Carers,
Easter course
We all had a fabulous time on our Easter course. It is always a privilege to look after your children and hear them sing. All the choirs sounded fantastic and I hope that those of you who came to the Open Rehearsals enjoyed hearing some of what the children had been working on during their week with us.
It is always hard to pick out highlights of such a full and exciting week. From singing all day to cabaret, to showtunes singalong, to Easter egg hunts and party night I hope everyone enjoyed themselves.
Choristers of the course
Congratulations to all our choristers of the course:Yellow Music – Elise Brown
Yellow Pastoral – Zoya Reynolds
Blue Music – Liv Hassan
Green Music – Thomas Tennant
Elmshurst Pastoral – Lottie Davis
Oakley Pastoral – Hannah Miller
Senior music – Nathan Hughes
Senior Pastoral – Tilly Bridgeman
Lost property
I have the following unnamed lost property that was left behind at Bromsgrove.Teal raincoat size XS
White shirt 17.5”
101 Dalmatians pillow case
Pink slipper socks
Thinker eye mask
Three cropped vest tops size L
Please let me know if you think any of these belong to your child. I will return them but will need
to pass on the postage charge. Alternatively I can return them at the summer course.
Soundabout workshop
For the third year running we welcomed Soundabout Inclusive Choirs to Bromsgrove on Thursday 17th April, for a joint workshop with Blue Choir.
You can read more about Soundabout Choirs here: Soundabout Choirs – Musical Communities Without Barriers
Our partnership with Soundabout is built on a commitment to high quality music making opportunities for all. The workshop is always an inspiring and joyful occasion, and as ever we were very proud of Blue Choir.
The Roundhouse
On Tuesday 22nd April 16 of Senior Choir performed at Rise: Past, Present and Future Talent at the Roundhouse in London. We were delighted to be invited to participate in this ambitious concert to mark the 20th Anniversary of Future Talent.
Soundcheck
Rehearsal with the orchestra
The choir performed two pieces as part of the finale of the concert, both with a full orchestra. They sounded incredible. It was a wonderful experience to be able to perform in such an iconic venue. The choir was a credit to NCCGB.
We were also delighted to get the chance to meet VOCES8, who gave NCCGB a private and impromptu performance and did a Q&A session with us.
Meeting VOCES 8
Summer course – 3rd – 9th August
The following payments are due for the summer course:
Second payment – £100 – due on 9th May
Balance payment – £610 -due on 20th June
Sibling balance payment, where two or more siblings are attending the same course – £531.50 per child -due on 20th June
Summer course room sharing
For those who are new to NCCGB, this is just to note that we understand that the children will have made new friends at the Easter course who they may wish to share a room with. In June I will send out a form for summer course room sharing requests, and any other changes to information that we need to be aware of.
Summer public concert
Our public concert will take place at the Royal Conservatoire in Birmingham on Saturday 9th August. We will travel there with the children and all their luggage that morning, and spend time rehearsing, ahead of the concert at 3.30pm. You will be able to collect the children straight from the Conservatoire at the end of the concert.
I will send out further details nearer the time.
2026 course dates
Easter
Junior Choirs – Sunday 5th April to Saturday 11th April
Senior and Tour Choir – Tuesday 7th April to Saturday 11th April
Summer
All choirs – Sunday 2nd August to Saturday 8th August
2026 Tour
After the success of our tour to Germany last year, we have decided to take the choir on tour again next year. We will be going to Stockholm from 14th – 19th August 2026.
We have purposely chosen to travel in between A-Level results day and GCSE results day, in order to give as many as possible the chance to come on tour. Please note though, that we will be travelling on the day after A-Level results day.
We will not be able to guarantee time or wifi access to clearing for college or university places. Choristers should bear this in mind when deciding whether to join the tour.
Tour places will initially be open to those who will be in Year 11 and above during our Easter 2026 course.
If there are any remaining places, there will be the opportunity for those who will be in Year 10 during our Easter 2026 course, to audition for these places during the 2025 summer course.
Tour choir MUST be able to attend both Easter and Summer 2026 courses as there will be a lot of repertoire to learn.
For further information and to register your child for a place, please click here…
Choir member achievementsTom Fitzgerald – Grade 8 singing – distinction
Lily Harris – Piano Grade 7 distinction
Maddie Hughes – Grade 6 in Musical Theatre for Singers with Distinction.
Nathan Hughes Diploma in Musical Theatre for Actors – Performance
Eve Horner – Grade 8 in Singing – distinction
Ellie Lovatt – Grade 5 piano – distinction
Oscar Mallis – awarded a music scholarship for secondary school with voice as his primary instrument.
Jess Morris – Grade 8 Music Theatre – Merit. Played bass clarinet with her School Concert Band in the National Concert Band Festival Finals at the Royal Northern College of Music. The Concert Band received a Platinum award.
Chloe Norgate – Grade 7 Musical theatre singing – distinction
Rufus Sibun – Grade 6 singing – distinction. Awarded music scholarships to 2 secondary schools
Congratulations to you all from everyone at NCC.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions on any of the information in this newsletter.
Best wishes
Nicole
Links
Soundabout Choirs
Sweden Tour