Young Chorister of the Year

[Celtic]

Weren't we going to have a YCOTY thread?

Luca is in the final this Sunday. But as discussed in Luca's thread:

For some reason, the BBC seems to think that pitting 17-year-old girls against 12-year-old boys is fair and proper, so their's not much we or he can do about that.

Yeah, I think it was best when having separate competitions for boys and girls. Although, the age limit is 16, not 17. I wonder if they were trying to cut costs by combining them into one competition.

Either an age limit of 14 or go back to having two winners.

It may well be that the change was made to make the final more "dramatic" with a single winner, or to keep the length of the broadcast down. Either way, someone didn't think properly about the potential implications.

But that's not to say Luca doesn't have a chance, and I will be watching and hoping he wins.

The winner performs at Cadogan Hall in London on the 13th.

A more sure bet is this one with finalist Sam confirmed as the soloist.

► Show Spoiler

Although, it is possible he might only sing one song, but I might go and hope for more.

[Celtic]

This is just a continuation of my chain of thought regarding YCOTY winners.

My objection to the change in format when the competition moved to being on TV was never about who holds the trophy. My objection was that if there was a single winner, this could represent the loss of an opportunity to record the voice of a fantastic boy treble, if the winner was the girl.

In the first year of the televised format the girls were slightly younger and the boy, Alexander Olleson was 14 and was able to compete on a level footing. He won, and had many opportunities to record as a result. One of the girls that year returned again this year, something a boy that age is unlikely to be able to manage.

But it does seem like Luca will get a number of opportunities as a result of his runner-up spot, and I think in light of that I can't really complain too loudly, as that's all I want from that competition anyway.

If they continue with this format, but still give opportunities for the best boy singer to record etc. then while I will still think it's unfair as a competition, I wouldn't have so many objections about the result.

[Luckdragon]

I hesitate to interrupt this conversation with yourself, but when I saw how happy Luca was in his December 11 post and how excited he was to be going to Manchester for the recordings, I decided to stop grumbling about the format and celebrate the accomplishment with him.

Therefore, I fully endorse the point you just made to yourself.

Not that you need it or anything.

[Celtic]

Therefore, I fully endorse the point you're making with yourself.

Not that you needed it or anything.

I need no encouragement for a monologue with myself, but I thank you for your support.

[j8000]

The 2023 competition is taking place now, with the details of winners kept secret until it airs in December. A new format this time, with the separate boy and girl semi-finals replaced by junior and senior contests. I'm not sure that's a good idea but we can still enjoy performances even if the contest elements leave much to be desired.

Several entrants have been announced on Twitter, 3 junior girls and a reserve boy so far:

Melody: twitter.com/JuniorKingsSch/status/1699766773577318858
Belinda: twitter.com/wellscathschool/status/1708772337879752729
Amelia: twitter.com/ElizStratford/status/1709295372076499397
Rhys: twitter.com/ChoristerMum/status/1697190308855816338

[Luckdragon]

Max Thomas (14), formerly of Magdalen College, also participated in the semifinals.

https://www.youtube.com/@maxthomastreble

[Citlec]

I didn't make the semi-final's but I was there for the final, in the audience. Max should have won! His performance brought tears to my eyes, which I had to rapidly blink away lest I be caught on camera! It was filmed at the start of October and everyone was asked not to share the result, which I didn't! But a marvellous experience and Aled Jones was amazing!! He kept us all entertained for the four hours of filming!

[Yorkie]

I didn't make the semi-final's but I was there for the final, in the audience. Max should have won! His performance brought tears to my eyes, which I had to rapidly blink away lest I be caught on camera! It was filmed at the start of October and everyone was asked not to share the result, which I didn't! But a marvellous experience and Aled Jones was amazing!! He kept us all entertained for the four hours of filming!

Don't tell me the girls won both categories again?

[Luckdragon]

OK, we won't tell you. However, 12-year-old Freddie Simpson was a finalist and is currently raising funds to make some nice recordings of his treble voice.

[Citlec]

Don't tell me the girls won both categories again?

Don't get me started... I'm considering moving to Sweden so I can follow the Ã…rets Gossopran competition instead

OK, we won't tell you. However, 12-year-old Freddie Simpson was a finalist and is currently raising funds to make some nice recordings of his treble voice.

It was a nice surprise on the day, as I had no idea Freddie was in it, but I'd heard him sing down in St Thomas on the Bourne and met his father. So when Rob Lewis and then Freddie's father walked past me, you could say I was pleasantly surprised! As I only attended the final not the semi-final, which was filmed the day before, (4th-5th October - Gospel Singer of the Year was also filmed that week) I had no idea if Max had made it through, so I was delighted when I saw Max's father walk past too!

On the day I have to say the girl in the younger category against Freddie was the best singer on the day, but I STRONGLY dispute the result of the senior final! Particularly having heard it in person and having heard the judge's full comments! But there we go...

We've now not had a boy winner since the first year of the TV format when Christ Church Oxford's Alexander Olleson won it, despite having had Cormac Thompson, Archie White and Luca competing!

[Cat-a-tonic]

I agree with the above. I think Max should have won, though I wouldn't say it was a complete travesty as the winner was also good. It must have been a very difficult decision for the judges as they were both excellent and sang very different pieces in very different ways which makes it hard to compare. I loved Natalie's joy in singing in the semi final and her control over her soft notes in the final. However Max was stunning and his pitching, beginning acapella and then the accompaniment coming in and out was brilliant.


It's funny because I thought the boys would have more chance in the junior category where they're of an age with the girls and be more disadvantaged on the senior where the girls are likely to be older. But a girl won the junior (and I agree that was completely justified though after the semi final I thought it would be the other girl finalist as she was the best in the semis for me) and a boy nearly won the senior.

[LordG]

Something new about Freddie Simpson.

Freddie Simpson (12yr), sings Ave Verum (Karl Jenkins) in duet with Cai Thomas ‪@caithomas2787‬.
Directed by Robert Lewis, produced by Tom Mungall. Recorded in the beautiful St Andrew's Church,
Farnham in December 2023.

Freddie, a finalist in the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition met Cai, now a 17 yr old baritone,
in the boys' choir at St. Thomas-on-the Bourne. Freddie and Cai are both taught by Robert Lewis.


English Boy Treble, Freddie Simpson (12yr), sings Karl Jenkins' Ave Verum in duet with Cai Thomas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrAcYx3 ... dieSimpson

[filiarheni]

Freddie Simpson (12yr), sings Ave Verum (Karl Jenkins) in duet with Cai Thomas ‪@caithomas2787‬.
Directed by Robert Lewis, produced by Tom Mungall. Recorded in the beautiful St Andrew's Church,
Farnham in December 2023.

And the river of time flows on - here there was Cai Thomas singing the high voice part, together with Aksel Rykkvin in 2020: