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Young Chorister of the Year 2026 – 40th Anniversary

Marking the 40th anniversary of Â鶹Éç Young Chorister of the Year on Radio 2, Kate Bottley hosts this special final from Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester.

This year’s finalists join an illustrious tradition going back to 1986. Three junior choristers aged 11 to 13 and three senior choristers aged 14 to 18 will each perform in front of an expert panel of judges - Laura Wright, David Grant and Cameron Richardson. The judges must choose one junior and one senior winner.

Judge Laura Wright won the talent search in 2005 – she reflects back on her memories and how it shaped her professional music career.

The musical choices include God Be In My Head (Andrew Carter), Light of the World (Dankworth), Lord of all Hopefulness (Alan Bullard) for the juniors, and I'll walk with God (Nicholas Brodzsky), Laudate Dominum (Mozart) and Be thou my vision (Bob Chilcott) for the seniors.

As a finale, all the choristers from the junior and senior heats, join Aled Jones to sing a rousing arrangement of Morning Has Broken.

Producers: Alexa Good and Abigail Thomas