BEN PARRY will step down as National Youth Choirs of Great Britain's (NYCGB) Artistic Director at the end of this year, after ten years in the role.
He will continue as Principal Conductor during 2023, coinciding with the organisation’s 40th anniversary.
Since Parry stepped into the role in 2012, the membership of NYCGB’s four national choirs has more than doubled. It now consists of more than 900 singers aged 9 to 25 from diverse backgrounds across the UK.
Parry led the development of a comprehensive training, development and performance programme and championed NYCGB’s goal of opening up access to singing through establishing the Learning and Engagement programme, which works in partnership with schools, music hubs and communities.
He also oversaw the establishment of the Fellowship and Young Composers programmes to support the next generation of choral musicians, leaders and composers at the start of their careers, and developed a new music programme seeking to redefine choral music.
Parry is leaving to dedicate more time to his work as a conductor, composer and producer and as the director of London Voices.
“NYCGB will hold a very special place in my heart and I will continue to support it and the amazing young singers in any way I can,” he said.