NewYVC: A Singing Community in East London
NewYVC, based at Stratford Circus Arts Centre in east London, is much more than a youth community choir. It holds a space for a hugely diverse representation of people, where they can connect, learn and grow. They can feel recognised and supported in a safe, joyful environment. Supported by Youth Music since 2012, the choir and associated massed singing programme NewYVC Unite has gone from strength to strength, reaching over 600 young people aged 10-25 and developing a solid singing community in east London. Here, NewYVC Musical Director Jane Wheeler shares a bit about the vision for the programme.
Everyone involved with NewYVC, the young people, artists, teachers and administration team, has one thing in common – a passion for the power of good music to enrich and transform lives. Our regular weekly rehearsals with NewYVC are the cornerstone of the project, and are always open to teachers and artists at anytime to support practice sharing. Our associated massed singing programme, NewYVC Unite, enables an additional 16 school choirs to participate through a series of school-based workshops led by visiting young artists from NewYVC, larger clusters, massed rehearsals and performances. This structure enables everyone to build a sense of community and belonging to the programme.
Diversity and Inclusion
Every child aged 10 – 18 who loves to sing is welcome in NewYVC. Simple.
Through consultation with high level choral leaders and with the young people of NewYVC, we develop and study a diverse musical programme of truly great music. From early and modern classical music, Indian or African folk to classic and modern pop songs, our repertoire is hugely varied and is often arranged within our team of musicians, or by the choir members themselves.
We grapple with languages and stylistic inflections, exploring and aiming for the most respectful, authentic and beautiful interpretation. We are based in Newham, an area where 73.2% of the population are BAME and 66.3% of secondary pupils do not have English as their first language, so we are working in a wonderfully rich multi-cultural context.
There is no hierarchy within any different style. Origin and language is particularly important, as we draw on all expertise within and beyond the choir, from young singers to choral directors through to the guest artists who work with us. Through the music, we celebrate the diversity within our east London demography, rejoicing that we are all different, and all equal in importance in this community.
Vertical Learning Community
Everybody in our singing community is equally recognised as constantly learning and growing. This makes us all vulnerable in some contexts and strong in others.
We all have ideas and skills to share and offer, but always with a contribution to the shared goal of making beautiful, exciting, expressive music. The most esteemed guest conductors learn in the face of the expertise of some of our younger choir members, from talented soul singing soloists to Indian singers who correct our pronunciation. In the schools, each music teacher is offered challenges to embrace new musical styles whilst exchanging expertise with the young artists and music mentors who visit their schools.
Pathways
As part of this diverse, learning community NewYVC recognises young music mentors at aged 14 and above, who can then progress onto becoming young artists with dedication and experience (age 18-25). These young people gain additional training and are then the workshop leaders who visit the schools. We recognise the power of role models, creating aspiration to grow in the children and young people they work with, as well as in the young artists themselves.
Peace in Every Voice
In a world which seems increasingly turbulent and where peace seems to be threatened in more complex and unsettling ways, NewYVC provides a space where we remember that peace can be a human choice and we are free to celebrate this together. We hope our next massed choir event will demonstrate just this, and we’d love for you to join us.
Peace In Every Voice: NewYVC Unite Festival 2017
Tuesday 18th July, 7pm
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Tickets available here.