Another batch of fresh-faced cherubs are set to belt out hymns on BBC One’s Songs of Praise. This time, it’s the junior heat of the Young Chorister of the Year competition, airing Sunday, November 17, 2024. Five youngsters, aged 11-13, will face the music (literally) at Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester, vying for a spot in the finals. Aled Jones, ever the beacon of wholesome entertainment, presides over the proceedings.
The judging panel reads like a who’s who of recognizable names in the classical-adjacent world: composer Bob Chilcott, saxophonist YolanDa Brown, and mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins.
The Rev Kate Bottley is also on hand, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the contestants. Viewers can expect the usual mix of earnest pronouncements about the joy of singing and the importance of faith.
The song selections, as one might predict, lean heavily on the devotional. Prepare for renditions of “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” “On Eagle’s Wings,” “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” and “Pie Jesu.” A group performance of “The Lord of the Dance” is also on the docket.
In the end, only three of the five will advance, their dreams of choral glory momentarily intact.
Tune in to BBC One at 1:15 PM on Sunday, November 17, 2024, to see who makes the cut.
