Founded in 2008, the Hallé Children’s Choir is made up of over 90 children aged 8-12 (academic years 4-8) from across Greater Manchester and beyond.

Founded in 2008, the Hallé Children’s Choir is made up of over 90 children aged 8-12 (academic years 4-8) from across Greater Manchester and beyond.

It offers a chance to have the very best possible introduction to singing at the highest level in a range of singing styles. Children from all walks of life are welcome to audition; all we ask is that they enjoy singing and are prepared for the challenge of developing their ability whilst having fun!

The choir regularly perform in the celebrated Hallé Carol Concerts in December, the Hallé Youth Celebration performance in March and a summer concert with the Hallé.

The Children’s Choir has performed many world premieres commissioned by the Hallé including James MacMillan’s Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia, which was part of Sir Mark Elder’s final concerts as Music Director of the Hallé in both Manchester and London at the BBC Proms in 2024, Jonathan Dove’s A Brief

History of Creation, Edward Gregson’s The Salamander and the Moonraker and Carl Davis’ The Last Train to Tomorrow, based on the Kindertransport of 1938-39. The Children’s Choir have also performed Mahler’s Symphonies No.3 and No.8, and Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust.

In January 2014, the Children’s Choir took part in the television adaptation of Victoria Wood’s play That Day We Sang, aired on BBC 2 on Boxing Day 2014. After this collaboration the late great Victoria Wood became the Patron of the Hallé Children’s Choir and we are thrilled to have dedicated our rehearsal base in the Oglesby Centre at Hallé St Peter’s to her. In June 2023 the Children’s Choir premiered a new arrangement entitled A Northern Song – Celebrating the genius of Victoria Wood – for families and the Young at Heart! commissioned by the Victoria Wood Foundation.

As well as their annual appearances at the Hallé Carol Concerts and Youth Ensembles Celebration, the Children’s Choir appeared on BBC’s Blue Peter in December 2024, and will perform as part of the Mcr:Classical festival in June 2025.