National Youth Choir of Scotland to perform in Paisley

The National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) has announced a nationwide tour and gala concert to mark its 30th anniversary this year.

As part of the celebrations, NYCOS will perform Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana at Paisley Town Hall on Tuesday, August 21.

The anniversary performance of Carmina Burana holds special meaning for NYCOS, as it was the very first major work performed by the choir three decades ago.

That early concert set the tone for NYCOS’s ambitions and its commitment to nurturing young talent across Scotland.

Founded by Christopher Bell in 1996, NYCOS has grown into a national force for youth choral music, offering training, performance opportunities, and advocacy for young singers, teachers, and choir leaders.

Through a network of regional choirs, national ensembles, and educational programmes, the charity encourages participation from first experiences through to international-level performance.

Christopher Bell, artistic director of NYCOS, said: "I vividly recall the working party which met in 1995 to ask why Scotland did not have its own National Youth Choir.

"We resolved to create one, and NYCOS was born less than a year later.

"I have long since ceased to be surprised at what NYCOS singers can achieve – year on year they surpass all expectations, whether on stage at the Edinburgh International Festival or touring with our own productions.

"The network of regional choirs we added in 1998 is the backbone of our organisation, creating the singers of the future.

"I am so proud of Scotland’s young singers.

"Join us on tour this year as we celebrate 30 years."

Carmina Burana, composed in 1935-36, is a dramatic cantata based on medieval poetry and renowned for its unforgettable opening movement, O Fortuna.

Bell will conduct the anniversary tour, guiding 140 of Scotland’s young singers through the demanding and exhilarating score.

The 2026 tour will also include performances at Aberdeen Music Hall on August 22, and Perth Concert Hall on August 23.

Each concert will feature the National Youth Choir of Scotland alongside regional choirs from the host area, with NYCOS Renfrewshire Choir joining the performance in Paisley.

The anniversary programme also features two other major choral works: the world premiere of The World by Jay Capperauld, set to texts by Robert Louis Stevenson and Niall Campbell, and Jonathan Dove’s The Passing of the Year.

These touring concerts will build towards a gala performance at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on September 13, bringing together the National Youth Choir of Scotland, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and Bell.

The children’s choir parts will be performed by members of the National Boys Choir, National Boys Choir Training Choir, and National Girls Choir Training Choir.

Across three decades, NYCOS has championed the value of singing for young people, not only as an art form but as a means of building confidence, communication skills, and community.

With a strong focus on inclusion and opportunity, the organisation continues to promote singing as a vital part of Scotland’s cultural and educational landscape.

Tickets for all concerts are on sale now via the NYCOS website.