Irish Youth Choir

The Irish Youth Choir offers exciting performance opportunities for conductors and singers from all over Ireland.

“…the choral sound was always glorious”

— Michael Dervan, The Irish Times

“…a pleasure to listen to and a vindication of the choir's musical aims and methods”

— Martin Adams, The Irish Time

The Irish Youth Choir is the only dedicated national youth choir that offers training opportunities for conductors and singers from all over Ireland. Set up as a choir in 1982, IYC now consists of three choirs; the Irish Youth Choir (18–28), the Irish Youth Chamber Choir and the Irish Youth Training Choir (14–17) all overseen by Sing Ireland.

The Irish Youth Choir meets annually for a main intensive rehearsal course in the summer under the expert tuition of the Artistic Director, Bernie Sherlock, and a team of tutors and vocal coaches. The week culminates in a number of performances by the choir. The Irish Youth Training Choir meets for a weekend course and workshop performance before the Irish Youth Choir begins and the Irish Youth Chamber Choir meet and perform throughout the year.

Alumni of the Irish Youth Choir have proceeded to become some of Ireland’s best conductors, choir founders, singers, teachers, and musicians. They include internationally acclaimed singer Julie Feeney, soloists Mairéad Buicke, Bridget Knowles and Robin Tritschler, conductors Bernie Sherlock and Niall Crowley, to name but a few.

The Irish Youth Choir offers performance opportunities for conductors and singers from all over Ireland. 2008 saw the introduction of the Conductor in Training initiative for IYC, established to give a young conductor an opportunity to work with the choir and conduct IYC in rehearsals and performance.

The Irish Youth Choirs are run by Sing Ireland, Ireland's national body for the support and promotion of choirs and group singing, which is principally funded by the Arts Council of Ireland.