Connecting young people from across dublin and the surrounding areas through choral music education
THE DYC STORy…SO FAR
Based in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, Dublin Youth Choir was founded in 2017 with the aim of connecting young people across Dublin and the surrounding areas through a structure of incremental choral music education. DYC strives to provide the opportunity to develop musicianship, ensemble-singing skills, and sound vocal technique for every young singer. DYC is underpinned by a strong vision and an incremental musicianship programme that is inspired by Zoltán Kodály’s philosophy and principles of music pedagogy. Under the artistic direction of Lynsey Callaghan, accomplished musicians and teachers volunteer their time and expertise on a weekly basis to work with the young singers. DYC comprises four Junior Choirs (for primary school children from Second Class), Training Choirs (9-14 years old), including a treble choir for all upper voices, a cambiata choir for boys whose voices are changing and an advanced SSA choir, Youth Choir (14-18 year olds), DYC Singers (18-28 year olds), Chamber Choir, and Cross Border Youth Choir (with the Belfast Philharmonic Youth Chamber Choir). The young singers perform a wide repertoire, from medieval and renaissance music to compositions by living composers, placing a particular emphasis on Irish composers, such as Seán Doherty, Rhona Clarke, Ben Hanlon, and Michael McGlynn. The choirs have had considerable success in both national and international competitions. Most notably, Dublin Youth Chamber Choir was named Champions of the 2019 European Choir Games in the Youth Choir category, and Dublin Youth Choir was named Ireland’s Choir of the Year at the Cork International Choral Festival 2022. Following their success in Sweden, the Chamber Choir was invited by President Michael D. Higgins to perform twice at Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the President of Ireland. DYC began the Voices for Change initiative in 2018 and has partnered with the Peter McVerry Trust, Down Syndrome Ireland and Trócaire to raise funds for these charities. In 2021, DYC introduced the Pre-DYC programme for pupils in Junior/Senior Infants and First Class. This free online programme is designed to help young musicians and their parents/guardians develop fundamental musical concepts through games and activities.
Find out more about the DYC choirs (click here).
The experience is not restricted to singers resident in Dublin; anyone willing to commute is welcome to audition. To register yout interest in being part of Dublin Youth Choir, fill in the form (click here) or email joindyc@gmail.com.
If you are interested in members of the DYC team visiting your school, providing singing workshops, please email exploredyc@gmail.com.