Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company is the city’s leading music talent development programme, working with young musicians aged 13-21, with varying levels of expertise and from a diverse range of backgrounds. Youth Company is made up of inspiring and impressive ensembles, choirs and music-making experiences, and provides world-class projects and masterclasses to give young musicians like you everything you need to thrive.
We believe that music is for everyone, and that your generation will create a more thriving, diverse and exciting musical era for the future. We want to offer young and emerging musicians in England’s North West region an extensive range of learning opportunities, pathways into the industry, access to a community of like-minded, supportive musicians, and the buzz that can only come from making music together.
We are now accepting applications for all Youth Company ensembles and choirs!
Full bursaries are available. For more information, please contact youthcompany@liverpoolphil.com.
Please note that the approximate minimum standards for each ensemble and choir are general guidance only, and you don’t need to have completed formal examinations in order to apply.
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Ensembles Programme:
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra is the flagship orchestra of the Youth Company and offers valuable orchestral experience to advanced young musicians.
As part of the Youth Orchestra, you will enjoy working with a variety of conductors, including Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan, Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze, and a range of international guest conductors. You will have the opportunity to play alongside musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and benefit from their wealth of knowledge and experience.
Youth Orchestra regularly performs on the main stage of Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, where you will also get to play alongside world-class soloists. Previous guest soloists have included Pacho Flores, Elena Urioste and Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
Ages: 13-21 years old
Approximate minimum standard: Grade 7+
Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Piano, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Percussion
Rehearsals: Project-based seasons, rehearsing in Everton Friday 6-9pm and Sunday 10am-4pm during seasons, with regular breaks and an hour lunch break.
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Academy Orchestra is a friendly, supportive intermediate orchestra. Established as a core ensemble of the Youth Company in 2021, it is the ideal ensemble for first time orchestra players, and those aspiring to participate in Youth Orchestra. The orchestra plays an exciting variety of classical, folk, movie and show tunes, and is co-directed by Alex Dunn and Gethyn Jones.
As a member of the Youth Academy Orchestra, you will have the opportunity to perform on the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall stage, play alongside members of the Youth Orchestra and musicians of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Age: 8-18
Approximate minimum standard: Grade 4+
Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Piano, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Percussion
Rehearsals: Sunday evenings, in Everton
As the Youth Company’s newest ensemble, the Youth Session Orchestra is quickly gaining a reputation for its high-quality live performances in the genres of pop, jazz and R&B.
The Youth Session Orchestra performed alongside artists from the LIMF Academy in their debut performance in February, and will be collaborating with Tomorrow’s Warriors in Summer 2022.
This ensemble is ideal for advanced musicians looking to play in an exciting, dynamic and modern group.
Age: 13-21
Approximate minimum standard: Intermediate level of skill
Instruments: Vocalists, electric guitar, electric bass, keys, drums, saxophones, flute, violin, viola, cello, double bass, percussion
Rehearsals: Project-based seasons, Tuesday evenings in Everton
As a member of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Brass Band, you will collaborate with other like-minded, passionate musicians to bring a range of exciting, multi-genre brass band repertoire to the stage.
Led by Simon Cowen, one of the region’s top brass band music directors and Section Leader Trombone with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, you will perform in thrilling concerts throughout the year, including at least two performances at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
Youth Brass Band musicians will be part of a network of the most talented young creatives from across Liverpool and Merseyside, and your ideas will form an integral part of the ensemble’s artistic activity.
Age: 13-21
Approximate minimum standard: Grade 5+
Instruments: Soprano cornet, cornets, flugelhorn, baritone, tenor trombones, bass trombones, euphonium, E-flat basses, B-flat basses, percussion
Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings in Everton
Choirs Programme:
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir is for singers aged 12-19. The choir regularly performs with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir for concerts at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, and is directed by renowned conductor, Simon Emery. It is open to all voice types: soprano, alto, treble (unchanged boys voices), tenor and bass.
Age: 12-19
Approximate minimum grade: Intermediate level of skill
Rehearsals: Monday evenings, in Everton
Liverpool Philharmonic Cambiata Choir is our changing voices ensemble. Cambiata Choir members work closely with singing leader Ian Stephens as they transition to tenor and bass, leading to a full Youth Choir audition. Members will join the Youth Choir for warm-ups and break times, and work in a small group on a reduced repertoire specially curated to support developing voices, to be performed alongside Youth Choir.
Age: for developing male voices of any age up to 19
Approximate minimum grade: confident choral singers
Rehearsals: Monday evenings, in Everton.
Children’s Choir offers singers in school years 5 – 7 the opportunity to develop their choral skills through small group musicianship sessions and large choir rehearsals. The choir brings together 75 children from across the city to learn fun and exciting new pieces which they perform regularly at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
Age: school years 5-7
Approximate minimum grade: N/A - Anyone who loves to sing!
Rehearsals: Monday evenings, during term time in Everton
Melody Makers gives our youngest singers the best introduction into the world of singing together! This is the perfect group for any aspiring vocalists to meet other children, learn what it takes to sing on the main stage at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and have lots of fun in the process!
Age: School years 3 – 4
Approximate minimum grade: N/A - Anyone who loves to sing!
Rehearsals: Monday evenings, 6-7pm during term time in Everton