National Youth Choir celebrates outgoing leadership

The National Youth Choir (NYC) is preparing to say goodbye to three principal conductors, who have come to the end of their five-year contracts and will be stepping down from their current roles at the end of September.

Greg Beardsell will step down as leader of NYC’s choir for 15-18-year-olds, Joanna Tomlinson will move on from her role with NYC’s 9-15-year-olds choir (formerly National Youth Girls’ Choir and Lucy Joy Morris will end her term with NYC’s other 9-15-year group (formerly the National Youth Boys’ Choir). NYC will announce the appointment of a new principal conductor of National Youth Choir (9-15 Years) in the autumn, and will be undertaking a selection process for a new Principal Conductor of National Youth Choir (15-18 Years) in 2025. 

NYC creative director Lucy Hollins said: ‘This wonderful trio has given immeasurable amounts of expertise and dedication to the organisation over very many years; in doing so, they have changed the lives of many hundreds of young people, and given them a lifelong love of singing. Lucy Joy, Jo and Greg have been wonderful teachers, mentors, colleagues and friends to many, and we hope very much that they will remain a central part of the National Youth Choir family.’

Greg Beardsell’s long-standing relationship with the choir encompasses time as a choir member then section leader and, over the last 20 years, his roles have included associate director and deputy artistic director. During his time with NYC he led the development of choral collaborations and new commissions as well as early engagement work, including partnerships in Nottinghamshire, Cornwall and Cumbria.

Joanna Tomlinson joined NYC as Principal Conductor in autumn 2019, and premiered three new commissions during her time in the role as well as supporting the delivery of NYC’s Emerging Professional Artists schemes and learning and engagement programmes.

Lucy Joy Morris has worked with the National Youth Choir in varied roles including assistant conductor for the National Youth Training Choir, and conductor of the National Youth Boys’ Choir, as well as supporting NYC’s learning and engagement programme.

NYC chair David Roper said: ‘We consider ourselves fortunate to have been able to work with these choral leaders of the highest calibre and look forward to continuing relationships in the future.’