Regional Choirs
NYCOS Edinburgh Choir
Ages: 7 - 18As well as being fun, singing together in a choir has many benefits for children’s development and well-being. These include gaining music education, making friends and boosting confidence through performing. Singing also helps to develop literacy, concentration and memory.
Led by experienced music teachers and choir leaders, NYCOS Edinburgh Choir meets once a week during term time, where children learn and sing together with others their age. As well as singing in a group, children progress through our musicianship programme (based on Kodály method) and develop skills such as learning to read music, pitching, rhythm, sound production and simple theory.
The Right Honourable Lord Provost Frank Ross is Patron of NYCOS Edinburgh Choir.
REGIONAL CHOIR PARENT
“NYCOS is an incredibly valuable and very special part of my son’s life, I cannot recommend it enough. Choir is the highlight of his week; he has made so many friends at and it’s amazing to see how confident he has become each year. When we attend the concerts it’s wonderful to see all the skills the children have developed.”
Register Your Interest
Entry is usually for singers in P4 every September, but we are always interested to hear from singers aged 8-17 who would like to join our regional choirs.
Please use this form to contact us and we will let you know how to join.
Rehearsals
The choir meets each week during term time for rehearsals. Rehearsals last from 1 hour at Junior Choir stage up to 2.5 – 3 hours for older children.
Repertoire
The children sing music appropriate for their age and voice that is also enjoyable. This is drawn both from Scottish music and music from around the world.
Musicianship
Being part of a NYCOS choir isn’t just about singing in a group; our musicianship programme (based on Kodaly method) helps to develop skills such as learning to read music, pitching, rhythm, sound production, solo signing and simple theory.
Awards Programme
Our awards programme offers progression through its three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold, which chart choir members’ development as they work towards goals. A Gold level pass can be used as a substitute for ABRSM Grade 5 Theory.
Choir Staff
Each regional choir is led by a Choir Director, supported by music staff. All of our music staff are qualified musicians and are required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure with NYCOS. Each choir will also have a Coordinator at local level.
Membership Fees & Financial Assistance
We want all children to join, regardless of income or background. Recruitment workshops are free, all of our venues are accessible and fees can be reduced up to 100% based on sibling discounts and household income. We also offer a four week risk-free trial for new members.
The annual membership fee for Junior Choir is £216.
If you have any questions or feel that anything is stopping you from applying, please contact regional-choirs@nycos.co.uk and we will be happy to help.
Our sessions for 2024-2025 are starting soon. Please use this form to contact us and we will let you know how to join. If you need any assistance filling out this form please contact regional-choirs@nycos.co.uk
Please do not be put off applying if your child has missed the recruitment workshop. Depending on the time of year, we are happy to take on additional choir members. Please contact Louise Major if you wish to discuss a late application.
Regional Choir uniforms are available from an external supplier. You will receive email instructions on ordering before the Winter concert. Members in receipt of Fee Reduction will be offered a discounted rate.
You can pay your child’s membership fees by logging into your online account and selecting the ‘existing Memberships’ option or just click the button below.
You can also pay your fees by card over the phone.
PAY ONLINEAs children move through each section of the choir the rehearsal time increases. If cost is an issue, don’t be put off. You can choose to pay in instalments, and thanks to our donors and supporters we can cover up to 100% of the fees.
Fees for 2024-25:
| Junior Choir 1 & 2 | £216 |
| Intermediate Choir 1 & 2 | £234 |
| Senior Choir
Chamber Choir |
£255
£276 |
Children are normally recruited at the end of P3 for entry at P4. Older children are accepted into the choirs, but this is dependant on factors such as their age, vocal quality and ability to read music.
We have a fun and informal way of assessing singers: children try out simple singing and musical games in groups, which enables our staff to select singers for membership of the choir. Our free half-hour workshops are open to children in Primary 3 upwards.
We understand children may leave choir during the year for a number of reasons and operate the following refund policy.
In the first year of membership you will receive a full refund with no administration fee if membership is cancelled within four weeks of the choir start date.
For memberships in their second and subsequent years refunds will be issued following according to a sliding scale less a £10 administration fee. See our Terms and Conditions for further details.
Cancellations should be made in writing to regional-choirs@nycos.co.uk or to Regional Choirs Producer, NYCOS, 3rd Floor (Centre), Savoy House, 120 Sauchiehall Stree, Glasgow, G2 3DH.
Tickets for all NYCOS Regional Concerts are sold online. You will receive an email notification when booking opens for your child’s concert.
