National Children's Choir

Organisation

The choir is organised by a National Committee. This committee is responsible for:

· the development and application of NCC policies in line with the choir's constitution

· the planning and organisation of summer courses for teachers interested in learning the repertoire

· information regarding affiliation

· the organisation of affiliated schools into local/regional groups

· the organisation of the national concerts, including the overall management of rehearsal schedules in consultation with local organisers.

Role of Musical Directors

• The role of the Musical Directors is to select and arrange the repertoire (subject to the approval of the National Committee

• To prepare and record a teaching CD

• To facilitate and direct training courses for teachers

• To select and train Assistant Musical Directors

• To conduct local and regional rehearsals in conjunction with local Assistant Musical Directors

• To oversee the selection of children for the National Concert Hall

• To conduct the Dublin and National Concert Hall performances

An average of 8,000 children participate bi-annually.
Membership of the National Children's Choir is open to pupils in 4th, 5th and 6th classes
(P5, P6, P7 in Northern Ireland) of any primary school in Ireland.

Schools are invited to affiliate at the beginning of the school year in which the concerts will be performed (e.g. September 2012 for 2013 concerts). Details of affiliation are published in the INTO’s In Touch journal.

The repertoire (in vocal score format and on teaching CDs) is made available to schools through the National Organiser. Teachers teach the repertoire at school as part of the normal music programme. Local groups come together to rehearse 3 – 4 times during the year.

Local concerts in which all children who have learned the repertoire participate, are held March–May. A representative group from each participating school performs in a concert at the National Concert Hall in May/June.

Next series ofConcerts in The National Concert Hall will be in 2013