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BBC Young Chorister Of The Year 2023

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Songs of Praise and Radio 2 are searching for the Junior and Senior BBC Young Choristers of the Year 2023.

Eligible singers will be aged 10-17, and will enjoy singing sacred music of any genre, as part of a choir of any type, a worship group, or even just singing at home.

Singers will apply as part of one of two categories - the Junior section for singers aged 10-13 and the Senior section for singers aged 14-17 as of the 31st August 2023.

From everyone who applies, five singers will be chosen for the Junior Category, and five singers will be chosen for the Senior Category. They will go on to sing at the TV and Radio semi-finals at The Monastery, Manchester in October, in front of a panel of judges. One singer will be crowned “BBC Young Chorister of The Year 2023 Junior Winner” and one singer will be chosen as “BBC Young Chorister of The Year 2023 Senior Winner.”

They’ll each win a trophy plus the opportunity to feature on Songs of Praise and BBC Radio programmes.

It's very straightforward to apply. You can record your entry at home and submit it to the BBC using our online application form.

How To Enter

  • Make a simple video recording of you performing two pieces of music on your phone, tablet, laptop or camera. Remember to film in landscape. Here’s a guide to recording your entry.
  • Ask a parent or guardian to fill in the online application form.
  • Upload your two videos and submit your entry.

What Can I Sing?

  • You’ll need to film yourself singing two pieces of music - each under two and a half minutes long.
  • One MUST be a Christmas carol or song. The other can be a sacred song in ANY musical style, for example a hymn, favourite classical choral solo, a spiritual or inspirational song, anthem, aria, gospel or worship song. Out of the two pieces, one of the choices MUST be well-known, for example a hymn, carol or worship song regularly sung in church.
  • The recordings can be accompanied or unaccompanied. Singers who apply with one or two unaccompanied songs will NOT be penalised. Singers can choose to enter using any of the backing tracks available or their own accompaniment. The backing tracks are optional, and you don’t have to use them.

What Happens Next?

From the entries received, five Junior and five Senior singers will be chosen to perform at the Junior and Senior televised semi-finals in front of a panel of judges. Then three Juniors and three Seniors will be chosen by the judges to sing again in the television and radio recorded final (normally recorded on the following day). One singer will become “BBC Young Chorister Of The Year 2023 Junior Winner” and one will become “BBC Young Chorister Of The Year 2023 Senior Winner.”

The Prize

In addition to the title and trophy, the winners will appear on Songs of Praise and take part in BBC Radio recordings. There may also be opportunities where applicable for the winners’ choirs or music groups to be broadcast on BBC Radio and a chance to experience a recording session with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

All applications must be received by 23:59 on Monday 3rd July 2023. Please apply in good time for your entry to upload to the site, as we are not able to accept late entries.

Any questions or problems - please email: youngchorister@ctvc.co.uk