Folk star Hannah Rarity sings the praises of National Youth Choir Of Scotland

As one of the country’s most celebrated young folk singers and a past winner of BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician Of The Year, singing has not only given Hannah Rarity a career, but friendship, camaraderie, and health and wellbeing benefits.

She started her singing career with the National Youth Choir of Scotland when she was just seven and, as the NYCOS recruits a new roster of young singers from around the country, the West Lothian musician has talked glowingly about what the choir did for her when she was growing up.

Today is the closing date for applications, which are open to young people aged between 10 and 25, and everyone who completes an online application will receive a free audition. The NYCOS works in schools, has 14 regional choirs, and its national choirs are some of the country’s finest.

Through the choir, Rarity toured internationally, sang at major festivals and performed to packed concert halls. She credits the choir for increasing her confidence, helping her to make lifelong friends, and playing an integral role in aiding her mental health.

In light of recent concerns about rising levels of loneliness and isolation, especially in a world still recovering from a pandemic lockdown, some people – including Rarity – believe group singing could be a solution.

“I really feel for young people at the moment who have had to deal with Covid alongside all of the regular pressures of growing up,” she said.

“Having struggled with anxiety, I would say when I was younger, having that regular contact with the choir, no matter what was going on personally, definitely provided an outlet for me. Whether through the repertoire or the physicality itself, singing with them felt like a really positive surge of energy.

“I met some of my best friends, including someone I was a bridesmaid for this year, at the residential courses. Without the opportunity to find that community of people with a shared interest, I would never have come into contact with them. Those of us who were part of the choirs did amazing things. We sang at the BBC Proms a few times, toured in Scotland and internationally, and played some incredible venues.”

As a believer that singing is for everyone, she also shared how “eye-opening” it was to access a high-level of musical training. “As a young person, my family couldn’t have afforded regular singing lessons, so NYCOS was an ideal and accessible option. It always felt like a very inclusive environment. It was about your voice, your musicianship, and your attitude to being a part of the team. Nothing more.

“As someone who grew up loving singing, but without much exposure or access to classical or traditional music, to experience the works of different composers and types of composition was invaluable. The wide range of repertoire helped me to really come into my own as a singer.”

In recent years, alongside her solo career, Hannah has led community singing groups, running song sessions and workshops in Glasgow. Through this work, she has observed the benefits of singing from a new perspective.

“It’s been quite amazing to see it from the other side – not singing myself but observing. Most of the time, the participants are really open about how coming along and singing for a few hours leaves them with a buoyancy they didn’t have before. It’s amazing to see it first-hand.”

For someone thinking of joining a choir, she said: “Just do it. From the perspective of someone who has ended up doing music professionally, I can say being part of NYCOS grew and nurtured a love of singing in me. Even if it’s not something you want to do professionally, as a hobby or as an experience there’s nothing quite like it.”

Deadline for NYCOS applications is midnight, tonight. Visit nycos.co.uk/