New Amsterdams Youth Choir, Netherlands
The Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam (NVA) is a vocal training programme for children and young adults aged 4–21, founded in 2005. It welcomes children from all backgrounds, the only condition of entry being a love of singing. The NVA’s nearly 400 members are assigned to one of its 24 choirs and there receive weekly singing and solfège lessons. The most talented may go on to sing in a select choir such as the Nieuw Amsterdams Jeugdkoor, which ranks among Europe’s best youth choirs. What makes the NVA so remarkable is its particular interest in music theatre and cultivation of a varied repertoire that includes choreographed performances and even opera productions such as Britten’s Golden Vanity and Hans Krása’s Brundibár. It regularly provides the children’s choruses for the Dutch National Opera and has given concerts with the country’s leading orchestras. Its two teaching choirs, the Leerkoren set up in collaboration with the Leerorkest Amsterdam, coach 1500 children in schools all over Amsterdam every year.