London Youth Choirs (LYC) and St John’s Waterloo (SJW) have announced a landmark new partnership, with LYC establishing its permanent home at the newly restored Grade II* church at the heart of London’s vibrant South Bank. The move brings LYC’s offices and principal rehearsal spaces for the 350+ members of its six central choirs together under one roof for the first time. SJW will also serve as a performance venue for all 10 LYC choirs, including the regional choirs LYC North East, LYC South East, LYC South West and LYC West.
This partnership marks a significant step for both organisations. For LYC, the move to St John’s provides an outstanding, centrally located base from which to develop its citywide mission to raise young voices and shape young lives across the capital. For St John’s Waterloo, welcoming LYC cements its position as a year-round creative hub for music, community and the arts on the South Bank creative corridor.
Choral music has been rooted in St John’s Waterloo since it first opened in 1824, and when the church was rebuilt after the Second World War as the official church of the 1951 Festival of Britain, choirs travelled from across the country to sing in its beautiful nave. That legacy still lives on today: St John’s Waterloo remains a thriving musical home, welcoming a mix of choral, chamber and orchestral concerts, rehearsals and workshops.
This year, the South Bank marks the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain which helped establish the area as a national stage for culture, creativity, and optimism. To celebrate this anniversary and the rebuilding of the church, St John’s has been running a special programme of events since the summer, entitled Now I Make a Leaf of Voices.
The LYC and SJW partnership was officially launched at a special LYC concert at St John’s on Monday 26 October, held as part of this 75th anniversary series. Members of LYC’s London Youth Choir and LYC Chamber Choir under conductors Rachel Staunton and Lisa Graham performed alongside guest artists from The Sixteen and Genesis Sixteen conducted by Harry Christophers CBE. For the London Youth Choir singers, the concert also marked a homecoming from their first-ever residential course, held at Christ’s Hospital School in Sussex.
“I love the acoustics of St John’s Waterloo, it sounds very cool. It’s very magical.”
– Ava, London Youth Choir Member
“It’s really nice here, and it’s nice to be performing here after rehearsals every week – it’s a different experience.” – Iris, London Youth Choir Member
Nina Camilleri, Chief Executive of LYC, said:
“St John’s exemplifies the community spirit of collaboration and partnership which inspired LYC at its foundation. That same spirit continues to inspire us every day in our mission to shape the lives and futures of London’s young people through the power and shared joy of singing.”
Revd Cannon Giles Goddard, Vicar at St John’s Waterloo and CEO of the Bridge at Waterloo, said:
“It’s my utmost joy to welcome London Youth Choirs to St John’s Waterloo. Having LYC here at St John’s making the space their home is exactly the kind of partnership the building is made for. As a church with choral music at its very heart, and as an organisation that has shaped the lives of thousands of young people through the power of singing, we can’t think of a better fit.”
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For more information about this story please contact:
Julian Forbes – Marketing and Communications Manager at London Youth Choirs julian.forbes@londonyouthchoirs.com
Laurie Kremer – Communications Co-ordinator at St John’s Waterloo comms@stjohnswaterloo.org
Header photo credit: London Youth Choir perform at St John’s Waterloo on 26 October 2026, conducted by LYC Artistic Director Rachel Staunton © Hannah Quinn
