The Len Young Christmas Carol Project

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.

 

We are raising money to fund The Len Young Christmas Carol Project. This will enable the St James Consort, a North East-based octet of professional singers directed by Simon Davies-Fidler, to rehearse, record and film a selection of Len’s ten most memorable carols. Professional instrumentalists, sound engineers, videographers and designers will contribute to the project. There will be a publication - real and digital - of the carols, digital videos and audio recordings.

 

Len’s legacy is to be found in the many people working as professional musicians, teachers and others who continue as enthusiastic amateurs locally, nationally and internationally. The recordings and publication will add to that legacy and introduce his work to many more conductors and choirs, inspiring and bringing pleasure to them and their audiences.

 

If this funding campaign is successful the project will be completed by Autumn this year. A 'Come and Sing Day' will give conductors and singers the opportunity to learn the material with Len and Simon later this year.

 

Len’s many compositions include the musical Mine, numerous Christmas carols, Blackfriars, The Seafarer, a Requiem, Earth Song, Glimpses of Grainger Town, Spes Durat Avorum, Hexham Abbey Ground for organ and audience participation, and a full-length musical Odysseus (libretto by Tony Webster) written for QEHS Youth Theatre. The Sing Together Choir gave the first performances of Today (text by David Pattinson) and A Day in Spring. In 2020 he composed Reflections, ten pieces for choir and piano to anonymous texts. He has recently completed three Shakespeare Songs written for the 10th anniversary of Voices of Hope.

UPDATE: A donation of £1,500 has been received separately so the target amount has ben adjusted accordingly (from £7,000 to £5,500)