Len Young Requiem Project

In 2022 funds were raised to record and publish ten of Len Young’s Christmas carols. This was accomplished with fabulous recordings by the St James Consort. The success of this project led to calls for more of Len’s music to be more widely available. Details of the carols projects and links to the recordings and scores can be found HERE

Len Young has made a remarkable contribution to the musical lives of thousands of individuals, and the North East region generally, over the last five decades. He was a hugely popular and respected teacher; after graduating from the Royal College of Music, he inspired young people in Brixton, Heaton and finally Hexham, with a decade as Newcastle’s music adviser in between.

Alongside teaching, Len has composed and arranged a significant repertoire including musicals for pupils and youth theatres, choral works for choir and orchestra and many carols - often performed by Newcastle Choral Society which he conducted for over thirty years.

Choirs still perform Len’s music; because it is very good! He continues to be commissioned to write new pieces. He is highly regarded by many musicians who are impressed by the quality of his compositions alongside his generosity and passion for helping others to sing and play music. His musical brilliance is matched by his humble modesty - he does not shout about what he does - this project is in response to that. It will provide a professional quality resource that enriches and excites the global choral community.

The Len Young Requiem was composed in 1994 in memory of his colleague Jay Mawdsley who died in a tragic accident the previous year. It has been performed several times over the last three decades with Len revising the vocal lines and adapting the orchestration to suit the available instrumental resources.

We are asking choirs that have downloaded any of Len’s carols to make a donation to the Requiem Project. This is an alternative to charging a fixed amount per downloaded copy. All donations will go towards this project, further securing Len’s legacy and offering this wonderful music to a wider musical community.

The Requiem will be recorded in a live performance conducted by Simon Davies-Fidler around Easter in 2024.

Len's version of Gabriel's Message sung by the St James Consort.