BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2024
The production team at BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2024 helped to make Anna’s experience a wonderful one
What a brave, brave performance that was! Technically really accomplished.
Katherine Jenkins
Brave is the word – she really held her notes. The whole room wouldn’t even breathe…at the beginning going “a cappella” and very, very clear in her tone.
YolanDa Brown
About Anna
Family say that there has never been a time when Anna didn’t sing. She joined the Armonico Consort’s Warwick Academy choir on her sixth birthday and the Choir of St Mary’s Collegiate Church in Warwick shortly after her seventh birthday. She became a member of the National Youth Choir when she was nine and is a member of many choir and singing groups at school. Anna has been fortunate to sing at the Royal Albert Hall with Armonico and the National Youth Choir and at Canterbury Cathedral, St Paul’s and Westminster Abbey with St Mary’s Choir. Anna has won prizes at the Leamington Music Festival (voice and piano) and as part of a school quartet, won the Pro Corda National Schools Chamber Festival under 12 category earlier this year. At school, Anna has played the role of Princess Fiona in “Shrek, the Musical” and Wednesday Addams in “The Addams Family Musical”. Anna also plays the violin in the Warwickshire County String Orchestra. She is delighted to have won the BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2024 (Junior) title and is enjoying the opportunities this has already brought, including radio recordings at the BBC Philharmonic Studios and recording a candlelight service with the BBC to be televised on 22 December.
Great stage presence
Aled Jones
Katherine Jenkins
The control and assurance in her was very impressive
About BBC Young Chorister of the Year
One of the nicest things about taking part in the Young Chorister of the Year competition is the people I met and the friends I have made; it’s lovely to still be in touch with the other choristers. I am enjoying the opportunities the experience has already brought including singing Christmas music for the BBC Daily Service at the BBC Philharmonic Studio to be broadcast across Christmas week on BBC Radio 4Extra and recording the Songs of Praise Candlelit Christmas be televised on 22 December. I hope there will be more next year!
So composed – you really made us feel calm, and this beautiful, beautiful voice you have a lovely sound.
Bob Chilcott
You gave it so much personality and, the great thing is you, took us into this world straight away, I felt I was there and you told me the story, I loved it. Thank you!
Bob Chilcott
St Mary’s Warwick
She is a first-class musician, and it’s a delight to work with her almost daily. I, along with all her fellow musicians at St Mary’s, send heartiest congratulations.
Oliver Hancock, Director of Music
Armonico Consort
HUGE congratulations to one of our incredible AC Academy Scholars, 13-year-old Anna Chester who clinched the coveted title of BBC Songs of Praise ‘Young Chorister of the Year 2024’ We are super proud of you!
National Youth Choir
From the age of six Anna has gained immense pleasure from singing in choirs, from one per part madrigal singing to to much larger choruses like the National Youth Choir which she has particularly enjoyed singing with for a number of years.
I was holding on to every last moment and you didn’t disappoint it was really lovely.
YolanDa Brown
