

Cleveland Philharmonic Junior Choir - a great singing opportunity for children!








Cleveland Philharmonic Junior Choir is for singers (boys and girls) in year 5 and upwards. Singers are coached and inspired by John Forsyth MBE.
John Forsyth was County Music Adviser for Cleveland and led Tees Valley Youth Choir to the final of the BBC Choir of the Year. He has a great rapport with young people and, trained by him, children achieve an excellent standard of performance, and a degree of self-confidence, which neither they (nor their parents!) thought possible.
The accompanist is Andrew Christer.
Rehearsals take place between 5:50pm and 6:50pm on Tuesday evenings at Egglescliffe School, Urlay Nook Road, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0LA.
Please get in touch if you are interested in joining. You can email the Secretary on juniorchoir@clevelandphilharmonicchoir.com

Cleveland Philharmonic Junior Choir outside Birmingham Town Hall
Who can join?
Boys and girls from year 5 upwards who enjoy singing and are willing to commit to attending rehearsals regularly.
When and where does the choir meet?
Every Tuesday in term time from 5.50pm to 6.50pm at Egglescliffe School, Urlay Nook Road, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0LA. For those travelling from the east of our region, the easiest approach is from the A66, then A135 to Yarm, past Preston Park. This route is lit with street lights. Turn right just before the traffic lights at Yarm Bridge (South View) and right again at the T-junction at the end of South View. Take 2nd left into Seymour Drive and turn right into the large school car park. If it is full, you can park (with consideration to residents) in nearby streets, or across the road in the Tesco car park. Walk through to reception and staff will direct you from there.
How much does it cost?
£44 per term, with reductions for families in receipt of pupil premium or for siblings. This can be paid in a single payment, or spread out over the course of the term, whichever suits parents’ needs. There is nothing to pay until the singer’s membership is agreed by the Music Director – usually after two rehearsals.
What are the rehearsals like?
The children work hard in these sessions, but they are fun!
They use printed music, and are taught how to read the notes, signs and strange words!
Parents can sit in the hall and listen if they wish – and many do.
What about performances?
See further below for news and photos of recent events and concerts for the choirs.
There is a uniform for formal concerts. Parents provide:
- A white long-sleeved shirt – like a school shirt
- Black full-length trousers (not leggings)
- Black socks and black shoes. Black gym shoes are fine.
The choir will provide a smart red waistcoat for singers in the Junior Choir.
There is a rehearsal in the afternoon on concert days at the concert venue, and all choir members are expected to attend.
How can a new person join?
Email Choir Secretary (Judith Arber) on juniorchoir@clevelandphilharmonicchoir.com, or just come along to any rehearsal to try the choir out.
Who runs the choirs?
The choir is part of Cleveland Philharmonic Choir and is run by a committee of singers from CPC, helped by the parents of choir members.
What do parents think of it so far?
"A lovely opportunity for our children"
"It builds their confidence"
“It’s brilliant, bigger and better than we had thought.”
“We were blown away!”
“The best hour of the week – de-stressing for parents who sit and listen!”
“I’m pleased that John is going into the theory of music, too.”
“It’s not hard to get the children there – they want to come.”
“John’s way with the children is really good – he could say anything to them and they would accept it.”
“I love it when he says to the children, ‘I just want to thank you.’”
You can support the Junior Choir by becoming a patron...
by making a donation of any size. Your name will be included in the concert programmes, unless you opt to remain anonymous.
If you would like to find out more please email the Junior Choir Secretary on juniorchoir@clevelandphilharmonicchoir.com
Below are some of our recent concerts and other events...
Sunday 30th April 2023 in St Therese de Lisieux RC Church in Ingleby Barwick

This was the first concert that the young choir gave entirely on its own. They sang a variety of songs with joy and enthusiasm, ably supported by their vocal leaders. The concert was much appreciated by the audience.
Saturday 19th November 2022 in Middlesbrough Town Hall

The Junior Choir joined the adult choir to perform John Rutter's Mass of the Children. This was the first performance for almost all the singers in the Junior Choir, ably assisted by several members of the former Youth Choir. Their beautiful singing was much appreciated by everyone present.

Sunday 1st March 2020 at 3pm in St Mary's Church, Long Newton, TS21 1DD
The choirs performed Little Jazz Mass by Bob Chilcott, Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten and a selection of songs to a packed and enthusiastic audience.

Sunday 15 December 2019
Family Christmas Carol Concert
St Barnabas Church, Middlesbrough
Both choirs took part in this popular afternoon concert of Christmas favourites which also featured the magnificent Fishburn Band.

Friday 28 June 2019
Homeward Bound! A Tour of the British Isles in Song
St Mary's Cathedral, Coulby Newham
All the young singers joined the adult choir in a musical voyage around the British Isles with songs ranging from an Irish Blessing to The Beatles. A good time was had by all!
Saturday 23 March 2019 Songs for Spring, Nunthorpe Methodist Church.
The choirs sang brilliantly (Mendelssohn, Elgar, Rutter, Britten - alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lennon /McCartney) to an appreciative audience. Megan Moffitt and Daniel Fergie contributed excellent solo singing.





Sunday 16 December 2018, St Barnabas Church, Middlesbrough. Family Christmas Carol Concert. Both choirs took part in this popular afternoon CPC event which featured the splendid Fishburn Band.
Saturday 10 November 2018 at Sage Gateshead. The Intermediate Choir (now Vivaldi Voices) took part in Cleveland Philharmonic Choir’s performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, marking the centenary of the Armistice which ended the First World War. Alongside them, high above the choir and orchestra, were the choristers of Durham Cathedral and St Peter’s Church, Stockton. They were conducted by Daniel Cook, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Durham Cathedral, and accompanied by Francesca Massey, sub-organist at the Cathedral. The performance, in which the adult choirs were conducted by John Forsyth, featured star soloists Roderick Williams, Mark Padmore and Rachel Nicholls, and two orchestras!


Saturday 10 March 2018, at 6.30pm, the Junior Choir had its own concert 'We've Got Rhythm!' at Nunthorpe Methodist Church. The programme included songs by Mendelssohn and John Rutter, Chatanooga Choo Choo, Didn’t it rain and ended with The Daniel Jazz. There were solos from choir members and a guest guitarist. Tea and cakes were served in the church hall afterwards.

Friday 22 June 2018, at 7.30pm, the choir performed as part of the Cleveland Philharmonic Choir’s Evening of French Music at St Mary's Cathedral, Coulby Newham. They learned Au clair de la lune and Chevaliers de la table ronde, and sang the soldiers’ march from Carmen and joined the adult singers for the March of the Toreadors – the finale of the concert.
Saturday 2 June 2018, as part of the Swaledale Festival, members of the choir sang with the Marian Consort in St Mary’s Church, Richmond. They performed Victoria’s Salve regina and a new work, Stabat mater, by Gabriel Jackson. This was a true professional engagement – the choir was paid – and the Marian Concert and the audience were very pleased with the standard of their singing.


On Saturday 10 March 2018, at 6.30pm, the Junior Choir had its own concert 'We've Got Rhythm!' at Nunthorpe Methodist Church. The programme included songs by Mendelssohn and John Rutter, Chatanooga Choo Choo, Didn’t it rain and ended with The Daniel Jazz. There were solos from choir members and a guest guitarist. Tea and cakes were served in the church hall afterwards.
...and see here for some of our earlier events and concerts.