Taplow Youth Choir

Taplow Choirs is pleased to have a mixed voice Youth Choir which started in September 2006 and meets on alternate Saturdays from 4.30pm to 7.00pm.

There are approximately 70 members (sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses) and entry is by audition. It rates amongst the top youth choirs in the country and were Choir of the Year (Youth category) winners in 2008.

The choir usually meet in Taplow Village Centre Hall which is in the heart of Tapow village and has a free car park right outside the door.

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About the choir

Taplow Youth Choir was awarded the title of BBC Radio 3 ‘Youth Choir of the Year’ in 2008 and won the ‘Outstanding’ award at Music for Youth in the same year.

In April 2009, during a tour of Tallinn, Estonia, Taplow Youth Choir competed in the International Choral Competition and won second prize in the Youth category. Other tours have included Amsterdam in 2007; Catalonia in 2011, where the choir sang to large audiences, received standing ovations, and enjoyed performing in wonderful venues (including the Monastery Church at Monserrat and Barcelona Cathedral); and Venice in 2013.

Regular performers at the Windsor Festival, the choir also enjoys singing Choral Evensong annually at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. The choir is delighted to be a part of the Young Singers Scheme with the Gabrieli Consort, and performed Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Gabrieli Consort and players in the 2011 Proms season at the Royal Albert Hall.

In July 2012, Taplow Youth Choir took part in The Tree of Light (by Orlando Gough), performed at Stonor Park, Henley, as part of the Cultural Olympiad. In a busy Christmas season, the choir was chosen as one of the UK’s six representatives in the EBU competition Let The Peoples Sing, and also performed at the annual concert for Child Bereavement UK in Holy Trinity, Brompton, to which they were invited back in 2015. 

In March 2015 they performed in St Alban’s Abbey, sharing a concert with three other Youth choirs, where a specially commissioned work by Ben Parry received its world premiere. One month later, they travelled to the Czech Republic, giving five concerts during a week-long tour.

More recent tours have included Croatia and Slovenia in 2017, and Tuscany in 2019.

Interested in joining?

The requirements for admission are different for male and female voices. Potential is valued as much as achievement.

GIRLS: Girls are usually admitted from Year 11 upwards. At audition you will be asked to: perform a song of your choice, complete a section of sight singing, and undertake some aural and vocal exercises.

BOYS: Boys are admitted at any age, if their voices are changing – generally from Year 9 upwards, as alto, tenor, or bass singers. The admission process for boys consists of a simple vocal assessment with the conductor, exploring how the new voice is developing. You may, if you wish, perform a song your own choice. Some aural tests will be given, and simple sight singing according to the development of your voice. Professional singing coaches work with the Youth Choir and will monitor changing voices and advise.

Most new members begin in September, but auditions are offered at other times of year if there are vacancies.

Membership of the choir implies commitment to rehearsals and to taking part in concerts, wherever they are held. The choir enjoys a smart appearance as part of their presentation, and members are required to purchase and wear the bespoke concert dress. Music is loaned to members.

For more information, visit the Membership Recruitment page of our website, or contact Gillian Dibden directly on 07799 413746 or at gillian.dibden@gmail.com

Listen to the choir

You can also listen to our members’ solo musical endeavours here.