University of Glasgow Launches City-Wide Children’s Choir to Elevate Music Education

University of Glasgow Launches City-Wide Children’s Choir to Elevate Music Education

(IN BRIEF) The University of Glasgow has launched a city-wide Children’s Choir in collaboration with the National Schools Singing Programme, aiming to provide hundreds of state school pupils with professional-grade vocal training. Directed by choral scholar David Wynn-Evans, the choir will rehearse in schools across Glasgow, fostering exceptional musical standards. Academic lead Professor Roisín Coll notes plans to integrate the choir with community-focused projects like the Living Laboratory and GRID, while the University’s Principal, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, underscores its role in expanding educational opportunity. Glasgow City Council’s Douglas Hutchison highlights the choir’s alignment with existing arts programmes and the Youth Music Initiative. Patron Sir John Rutter CBE, who visited the University in 2024, praises the expansion of the National Schools Singing Programme into Glasgow, calling it a life-changing gift for children.

(PRESS RELEASE) GLASGOW, 7-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Glasgow has unveiled its new Children’s Choir, a city-wide initiative designed to bring high-quality vocal training to hundreds of state school pupils. In partnership with the National Schools Singing Programme (NSSP), this choir underscores the University’s dedication to civic engagement, elevating aspirations and widening access to higher education for young people—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Leading this venture is David Wynn-Evans, an accomplished choral scholar and gifted musician, who joins as Director of the University of Glasgow Children’s Choir. He will deliver professional-standard vocal tuition directly in schools across Glasgow, guiding children to form a choir of remarkable calibre.

Professor Roisín Coll of the School of Education, academic lead for the project, emphasises the choir’s broader community links: “We’re exploring synergies with our Living Laboratory and the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District, championed by former Health Secretary Jeane Freeman. Together with Glasgow City Council’s Executive Director of Education, Douglas Hutchison, we aim to harness singing’s educational, cultural, and health benefits.”

Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli highlights the University’s ethos: “Excellence and opportunity must coexist. By establishing this choir, we are giving every young Glaswegian—regardless of background—the chance to develop their musical talents to the highest standard, fuelling personal and civic prosperity.”

Douglas Hutchison adds: “Music profoundly enriches our schools, nurturing cognitive, emotional, social, and physical growth. This choir will complement our CREATE expressive arts programmes and the Youth Music Initiative, reinforcing Glasgow’s commitment to free instrumental tuition and holistic pupil development.”

The Children’s Choir is part of the National Schools Singing Programme—a growing movement supported by patron Sir John Rutter CBE. In 2024, Rutter visited the University to mentor student teachers and young singers, and he celebrated Glasgow’s inclusion: “Bringing the gift of music to more children is a marvellous development—one they will cherish for life.”

Media Contact:

email: media@glasgow.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Glasgow