LSO Discovery

About our Youth Choirs

Choirs on stage performing with a small band

The LSO Discovery Choir encourages young people aged 8 to 18 in the local community, of all abilities and from all backgrounds, to find their voice and experience the joys of singing and making music.

It is made up of two choirs, the Junior and Senior Choir, who rehearse weekly during term time. The choirs perform in their own concerts at LSO St Luke's and have opportunities to perform the with LSO and other artists, conductors and composers.

We asked those involved in the LSO Discovery Choir – the conductors, staff, accompanists, and young people themselves – to tell us all about what makes it so special to them!

From Conductors Lucy and David

Lucy conducts the Junior Choir for ages 8 to 11. She says she truly believes in the power of singing together to transform lives and communities.

'Our members develop musically and personally during their time in the choirs. Singing together, they make wonderful friendships and build strong networks, gain confidence, learn about teamwork and responsibility, open up their worlds to new stories and ideas, boost their ability to focus, and develop listening and communication skills. Scientific research has actually proven that singing makes us happy, healthy, and helps with brain development!'

She works closely with David (pictured), conductor of the Senior Choir for ages 11 to 18, who says it's a great way for teenagers to widen their outlook.

'In rehearsals I am trying to encourage members to be aware of people around them and how they collaborate with them. I have always believed that the community of the choir is directly parallel to the community of our society, and so much can be learned about how we interact with others. And of course, there's the opportunity to make wonderful music together.'

Conductor David Lawrence

From the staff team, Sumita and Sophia

Sumita is the LSO's Choral and Schools Projects Manager. She explains that the aim of the choirs is to enable young people to share in their love of singing. 'We hope the repertoire is interesting, the opportunities exciting and most of all, that it’s fun!'

She is supported by Sophia, our Choral and Schools Projects Coordinator, who hopes that the young people feel the choir is truly theirs, that they feel a sense of ownership and pride in it.

'I think that there are so many pressures on young people in school. We want choir to be a place where they can leave everything behind for the hour and focus on sharing music with their fellow singers. It's somewhere they can come each week and just be themselves and sing their hearts out. Of course, I also want our members to love what they are singing, and have a lots of fun and tons of amazing performance opportunities!'

Teenagers singing, smiling and doing dance moves

How it Works: A Year on Zoom

In the past year, the pandemic and lockdown meant the choirs were unable to come together in person. Instead the conductors and the staff team created videos for members to sing along to, before moving rehearsals to Zoom. Musically the choirs went on a trip around the world, learnt songs in different languages and from different cultures, and found out lots of fun facts along the way!

This was a great opportunity to have guest artists join us and lead rehearsals, such as Suzzie Vango, Emily Dickens, Hannah Brine and Ranjana Ghatak, who introduced the choirs to Indian classical singing.

One of the videos created for the choirs at the start of lockdown – have a go yourself!

In recent weeks, due to the changes in guidance for out-of-school activities, our youth choirs have been able to safely meet in person again in our Covid-secure venue of LSO St Luke’s, and sing together for the first time in more than a year.

'It felt like we started from a blank slate', explains Sumita, 'working out what was possible in a 'Covid world' – considering things like temperature checks, staggered arrivals, hand hygiene, set up to name a few. We are so lucky to have access to LSO St Luke’s as it feels very safe to be there. The choir members stand two metres apart at all times, and this has been a big adjustment! It is much harder to hear the other singers in your section, and you feel very far away from the conductor, but it's a challenge that the young people have thrown themselves into.'

Back to Rehearsals

'After over a year running rehearsals on Zoom it felt so exciting to return to in-person rehearsals,' says Sophia. 'The young people have been so wonderful in supporting the procedures we have in place. They are absolute stars!'

'At one of the first Senior Choir rehearsals, conductor David was building up the voice parts in a piece we had been learning over Zoom. He began with the beautiful sounds of the sopranos, added the luscious harmony of the altos, and then the pure magic of the baritone voices. Hearing the choir as a whole, and how each of our members' voices have grown and developed over the year, was fantastic to experience!'

The choirs' accompanists, Liz and Jo, also said how special the experience was. 'The atmosphere was absolutely amazing! The team spirit and passion shown by all the young singers was so strong, and I’ve been blown away by the sound of these young people singing their hearts out.'

'It was very moving to see the excitement amongst all the youngsters, not only to sing again, but to be back together with the friends they have made over their time in the choir. They make such special bonds and it is such a pleasure to witness.'

A socially distanced youth choir rehearsal
Girl soloist singing into a handheld microphone

From our Young Singers

What is the best thing about singing together with other people?

'Getting to know people that I wouldn't have otherwise met' (Julius, Junior Choir)

'That all our voices make one beautiful sound.' (Ella, Junior Choir)

'Developing my singing skills while also singing with talented people' (Astrid, Senior Choir)

'Having lots of fun – you can just be happy the whole way through the song.' (Olivia, Junior Choir)

'Making new friends and sharing in the joy of singing with others – you simply come out of the session in a better mood that you went in with!' (Gabi, Junior Choir)


What is the most fun you have had in the choir?

'Singing in the Christmas concert 2019 at the Barbican – it was my first big concert and I enjoyed it a lot!' (Ruben, Junior Choir)

'I always like the warm ups, when we make different, crazy and funny sounds. I also enjoy when, once you have finished learning a new song, you sing it with pride. ' (Isadora, Junior Choir)

'Singing The Yeti who Likes Spaghetti.' (Erik, Junior Choir)

'The Christmas concerts – there were lots of fun and festive songs for us to sing, and we could listen to the other choirs performing as well!' (Maia, Senior Choir)

'The first day of Senior Choir – I really connected with the people and felt the music on another level' (Astrid, Senior Choir)


What would you say to a friend who is thinking of joining?

'Go for it! It’s really fun and kind, and a wonderful choir to be part of' (Lily, Senior Choir)

'If you want an opportunity to meet new friends, learn new songs and have lots of fun, do join! ' (Gabi, Junior Choir)

'It has good conductors and nice staff and children. You should join!' (Max, Senior Choir)

'It's great. You learn things without realising that you learn because it is so much fun.' (Julius, Junior Choir)

Young children singing, smiling and doing dance moves

Both choirs are currently recruiting new members for the academic year September 2021–July 2022.

The choirs meet weekly during term time at LSO St Luke’s, Old Street, and offer the chance for young people to develop their musical and vocal skills, make friends, and perform alongside the world’s greatest professional musicians.

The deadline to apply to join is 4pm Friday 25 June via the application form on our website. Places will be allocated for one year following a selection day in July.

The selection day is a relaxed opportunity for young people to experience what it is like to sing in small groups, and an opportunity for the singers and conductors to meet each other.


Keep reading to find out what opportunities there are for young members of the LSO Discovery Choir, and for full details of who can apply and how.


Boy soloist singing into microphone

Opportunities for the Choir

Being part of the LSO Discovery Choir, young people get the chance to perform alongside the world's greatest professional musicians, and to work with top choral conductors and vocal coaches.

For the Junior Choir, young singers get an excellent introduction to group singing in a fun and engaging way, that inspires a lifelong love of singing.

A particular highlight for the Senior Choir is the annual Sing Stars concert. Sophia explains 'these concerts involve the Junior and Senior Youth Choirs, a four-piece band, lots of cool lights and the backdrop of LSO St Luke's. It is always a very fun gig to be a part of, and features solos from the Senior Choir performing songs they themselves have suggested – in the past we have had Diamonds are Forever and Bohemian Rhapsody!

Conductor Lucy says the opportunities that come from being part of the LSO family are one of the things she loves most about working with the choirs. 'In 2019 they had the chance to be involved in the production of The Cunning Little Vixen (pictured) with Sir Simon Rattle and the LSO at the Barbican. I think it's wonderful that our young singers are given those sorts of opportunities.'

On stage in The Cunning Little Vixen

The choirs have also had music written for them by composers like Jonathan Dove. He wrote the community opera The Monster in the Maze (pictured below), commissioned by the LSO, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and the Berlin Philharmonic and premiered across Europe in 2015.

The Making of The Monster in the Maze, A Community Opera

'I have had the huge privilege of overseeing three incredible community opera projects with our huge family of LSO choirs, with Sir Simon Rattle and Simon Halsey at the helm, performed on the Barbican stage. What stands out is the exhilaration and joy from the singers, coming off stage after the performance and completely buzzing from what they had just achieved. These pieces have a way of bringing our huge community together, something I can’t wait to return to in the future, particularly after the year we’ve all had.'
Andra East, Head of LSO Discovery
Young singers on stage in The Cunning Little Vixen

On stage in The Cunning Little Vixen

On stage in The Cunning Little Vixen

Singers and musicians on stage in front of monster face light projection

On stage in The Monster in the Maze

On stage in The Monster in the Maze

Application Open for 2021/22 Membership

Rehearsals & Who Can Join

Junior Choir

> For young people aged 8–11 years (school years 4, 5 and 6) who live or go to school in Hackney, Islington or the City
> For those enthusiastic about wanting to sing in a choir and develop singing technique
> Rehearsals at LSO St Luke's, Mondays 4–5pm
> Led by Lucy Hollins

Senior Choir

> For young people aged 11–18 years (school years 7+)
> For those passionate about singing and creating music with like-minded young people
> Rehearsals at LSO St Luke's, Mondays 5–6.15pm
> Led by David Lawrence

How to Apply

Complete the application form by the deadline of 4pm Friday 25 June.

In the week commencing Monday 28 June you will receive an email confirming the exact date, time, location and requirements for a selection day. The possible dates are:
> Monday 12 July 4–7pm
> Monday 19 July 4–7pm

Following the selection day, you will receive notification of whether your child has been awarded a place in the choir. Rehearsals will start in September 2021.

Any Questions?

Email lso.choirs@lso.co.uk or call 020 7382 2526

Images © Kevin Leighton, Mark Allan