National Youth Choir appoints new principal conductor

Florence Lockheart
Monday, October 28, 2024

Lynsey Callaghan will lead NYC’s choir for 9–15-year-olds in a newly created role

The National Youth Choir (NYC) has announced the appointment of Lynsey Callaghan as principal conductor of its choir for 9-15-year-olds, effective immediately. The role, which has been newly created to ‘oversee the musical training’ of NYC’s youngest singers, is intended to support young people’s entry into singing.

Callaghan will work alongside the NYC creative team. She brings to her new role experience as head of programmes, research and academics at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, founding artistic director of Dublin Youth Choir and the Cross Border Youth Choir, artistic director of the Belfast Philharmonic Youth and Chamber Choirs, and music director of Tallaght Choral Society.

NYC creative director Lucy Hollins said: ‘I am thrilled to welcome Lynsey to the National Youth Choir community, to lead the next chapter in the musical development of National Youth Choir (9-15 Years). Lynsey is a hugely experience choral director and music educator and has a truly inspirational vision for the choir. Excellence, fun and belonging are at the heart of everything we do, and I have no doubt that Lynsey is the right person to uphold and build on these values, and to take the choir in exciting new directions.’

Callaghan has a bachelor’s degree in music education, a master’s degree in choral conducting from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, an MBA in arts innovation at the Global Leaders Institute, and a doctorate in musicology at Trinity College Dublin. Her appointment follows a selection process involving audition workshops and feedback from members of National Youth Choir (9-15 Years), judged by a panel of industry professionals and trustees. She will lead her first residential course in Summer 2025.

Callaghan said: ‘The National Youth Choir is an inspiring organisation, bringing together so many wonderful young people with diverse experiences to create excellent music. I am immensely grateful to have an opportunity to play a role in this organisation, and I look forward to working with the team to continue and expand on this important work.’