North East Festival of Youth Choirs – A Day of Joyful Singing
The North East Festival of Youth Choirs was a wonderful celebration of young voices from across our region. More than 1,200 young people came together at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music for a full day of music‑making. We are deeply grateful to The Glasshouse team for their partnership, support, and hard work in helping make this event so special.
The festival shone a light on the talent, dedication, and spirit of our young singers. Across the day, choirs from primary schools to youth ensembles filled the building with energy and colour.
Primary Choir of the Year
This year’s Primary Choir of the Year featured 14 fantastic choirs, bringing together 514 singers. Every group performed with heart and confidence, making the judges’ job incredibly hard.
Highly Commended:
Billy Quay Primary
Marsden Primary School
Winner:
St. Bede’s Catholic Primary
Their performance stood out for musicality, teamwork, and sheer joy.
Secondary Choir of the Year
We were thrilled to welcome 11 brilliant secondary choirs, with 381 singers taking part. The standard was exceptional, showing the strength of singing in our region’s secondary schools.
Highly Commended:
Cardinal Hume Catholic School
The Academy at Shotton Hall Choir
Winner:
Carmel College
Their captivating performance impressed both the audience and the judging panel.
A Heartfelt Thank You
A huge thank you goes to our judges:
Rebecca Johnson, Senior Producer at The Glasshouse
Will Todd, composer
Their supportive comments and encouragement meant a great deal to all our young performers.
A Grand Finale
The day ended with a breathtaking massed‑choir performance. 372 singers joined together to perform Will Todd’s “Like a Rainbow Shining”. Hearing young voices united in such a powerful piece was a moving and memorable moment.
Looking Ahead
We are delighted to share that the winners from each category will be invited to perform at next year’s festival. We cannot wait to welcome them back and continue celebrating the vibrant youth singing community across the North East.
From primary choirs to youth ensembles, every choir helped make this event a joyful showcase of what young people can achieve when they sing together.