School Choir Of The Year competition

BBC Radio Ulster’s School Choir Of The Year is open to all primary and secondary schools in Northern Ireland.

Primary and secondary schools from Co Antrim, Co Armagh, Co Down, Co Fermanagh, Co Londonderry and Co Tyrone are invited to submit their choirs for entry into the competition by mid-December this year.

Six primary schools and six secondary schools will then be shortlisted from each county and be invited to take part in heats in February 2015 in the hope of making it to the grand final competition. These heats will be recorded for a special series of programmes on BBC Radio Ulster.

The winning choirs will help BBC Radio Ulster celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2015 and feature across a range of the station’s programming and events.

Fergus Keeling, Head of Radio, BBC Northern Ireland, says: “Here at BBC Radio Ulster we are passionate about discovering, nurturing and supporting musical talent and we’re delighted to be working alongside the Ulster Youth Choir with support from the Arts Council NI to launch BBC Radio Ulster’s School Choir Of The Year competition.

“This competition is in keeping with the current BBC Music campaign and highlights our dedication to finding new musical talent and giving them an important platform on which to perform and grow as artists.”

Schools are ask to send two contrasting performances on CD format to: Ulster Youth Choir, Millennium Court Arts Centre, William Street, Portadown BT62 3NX or to send via mp3 format to: [email protected]

The Ulster Youth Choir will contact schools directly with information on how to submit their entry. For further information, please visit bbc.co.uk/radioulster and www.uyc.org.uk or email [email protected]

Entries will be shortlisted by BBC Radio Ulster and the Ulster Youth Choir.