Testimonials

“What an enormous pleasure to hear the cross-community North Belfast Youth Choir singing at the Mansion House in London in front of the Lady Mayor and a packed house – wonderfully uplifting, I was transported and deeply moved by the beauty of it all.”

“North Belfast Youth Choir is a ground-breaking music project involving second level schools in North Belfast, a community that suffered greatly during the darkest days of the conflict. As we enter a decade of significant commemorations in Northern Ireland, North Belfast Youth Choir offers young people a positive means of exploring shared identity, building common bonds and growing new friendships that may otherwise not be likely. It is a deeply powerful symbol of the new Belfast and Northern Ireland that we are working to build.
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“I am in Year 14 and current Head Boy of Belfast Boys’ Model School. I have been part of North Belfast Youth Choir from Year 10, and my time in the choir has provided me with unforgettable experiences both at home and abroad, and a group of friends that I will cherish for life. NBYC means a lot to me. I’ve always had a passion for music, and this programme has allowed me to develop that passion in such a way, and with people that I never would have thought was possible. For me, going to other schools and making friends with people my age from different communities was out of my comfort zone, but through a shared love for music and singing, I have met people that I never thought I would, and all of a sudden their background, where they come from or their religion doesn’t matter. Now that I’m in Year 14, I can see the same sort of positive relationships building amongst the younger choir members and I genuinely feel that this is the hidden beauty of the work we do.”

“My names Savana and I am about to begin my final year of school at the Belfast Model School for Girls. I have been a member of the choir for nearly 6 years. When I first joined I was really nervous, but with support from the teachers and Donal, my confidence has grown huge amounts. I have had many opportunities with the choir including recording with BBC, performing with the Ulster Orchestra and going on a residential to Derry/Londonderry. Overall, the choir is like a second family to me, we are always there for each other.”