Another batch of aspiring altar boys and girls are ready to belt out hymns and “Ave Maria” for the chance at choral glory. Yes, it’s the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition, and this Sunday, the seniors (14-16 year-olds) take center stage at Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester. If you’re into angelic voices and the occasional soaring crescendo, well, this is probably your jam.
Aled Jones presides over the proceedings, likely offering encouraging words and anecdotes about his own boy soprano days. The real drama, of course, lies with the judging panel, featuring mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, composer Bob Chilcott, and saxophonist YolanDa Brown. This trio has the unenviable task of whittling down five talented choristers to just three finalists. One can only imagine the hushed deliberations and furrowed brows as they weigh vibrato against breath control, and perhaps debate the merits of a particularly well-executed high C.
The program offers a mix of the expected and the (slightly) less so. While staples like “O for the Wings of a Dove” are guaranteed to be on offer, the competitors will also tackle contemporary works by John Rutter and Philip Stopford. Because even choral music has to move with the times, apparently. And to wrap things up, all five singers will join forces for a group rendition of “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.” It’s a guaranteed tearjerker, even if you’re made of stone.
For those invested in the future of liturgical music, this episode follows the junior heat and precedes the grand final. .
Tune in to BBC One this Sunday, November 24, 2024, at 1:15 PM to witness the choral drama unfold.
