The Senior Choirs of BCYC are preparing for their choir development tour to Rome as part of their preparation for broadcasting BBC One's Christmas Day Mass, live from St Joseph's, Bradford. The tour and the preparatory workshops will give them the intensity of rehearsal only normally found in private choir schools; the experience of singing in Rome's historic churches will be wonderfully inspiring.

The choir will sing for Masses for All Saints and All Souls Day, sing at the tomb of St Paul at St Paul without the Walls, and give a concert in the chapel of the Venerable English College.

Preparing for and taking part in this tour will be a superb experience for the young singers involved, expanding their musical, cultural and personal horizons, and in addition raising the positive profile of Bradfords young people and the high artistic standards they can achieve. One of the aims of our Singing Programme as a whole is to inspire the next generation of music leaders be they professional musicians, church music leaders or teachers. A large number of our choir alumni have gone on to forge successful careers as cathedral choristers and Choral Directors and several ex-choristers are now part of our team of professional Choral Directors, leading our outreach and choral programmes.

The total cost of taking the Choir to Rome is £24,990, including transport and accommodation costs, entrance fees, the purchase of a new choir uniform and tour t-shirt for members and the purchase of music for the Masses and concert. To ensure this experience is accessible and affordable for all choir members we are seeking support from a range of Trusts, Foundations, corporate partners and individual donors. Any support you are able to give, however small or big will make a huge difference; helping young people from Bradford grow in self-belief and confidence as they take part in an experience that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.