Festival 2026

MARCUS PASHLEY

Director of Music

A graduate of Manchester University, Marcus has pursued a career in music education as Assistant Director of Music at Ashville College, Harrogate (1992-1998), Director of Music at Kimbolton School in Cambridgeshire (1998-2004) and Director of Music at Cranleigh School, Surrey (2004-2019). After a career moving ever-further south, in 2019 he took the opportunity to move back to more northern roots and now enjoys life as a freelance musician, based in Derbyshire.

Marcus was a founder member of the prizewinning Manchester-based choir Canzonetta and has served as Director of the Bradford Choristers, Chorus Master of Central Festival Opera, Musical Director of the Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Chorus & Orchestra, Cranleigh Choral Society and the Surrey Festival Choir. He is also Senior Choral Tutor on the annual Chester Choral Week course. A popular adjudicator, credits include the Bangor International Choral Festival and the Channel Islands Music Competition. Marcus also has a passion for musical theatre and has musically directed productions of The Boyfriend, Salad Days, O What a Lovely War, My Fair Lady, Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, The Producers and Chicago.

National Youth Choirs of Great Britain today announces the appointment of Lucy Hollins as its new Creative Director. Lucy will join the organisation later in the spring, from the University of Warwick, where she is currently Head of Music. Ben Parry stepped down as NYCGB Artistic Director at the end of last year, although he remains Principal Conductor of the National Youth Choir until later this year.  

As well as her work at Warwick University, Lucy is also Associate Chorus Director of the London Symphony Chorus, conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s SO Vocal, Guest Conductor of the Cambridge Philharmonic and Creative Lead at the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.  An expert in the field of music education and engagement, she is also a vocal leader for Music for Life and conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra’s Junior Choir.

Lucy is also a published author, having co-written How To Make Your Choir Sound Awesome with Suzzie Vango, released in 2022 and named Choral Publication of the Year by Presto Music.  Working alongside NYCGB’s Chief Executive Anne Besford, Lucy will lead the development of NYCGB’s creative strategy and programmes, including NYCGB’s four national choirs, currently comprising more than 900 young singers aged between 9 and 25 from all regions of the country and from increasingly diverse backgrounds.

Alongside the choirs, Lucy will work with the NYCGB team to continue to open up access to singing for everyone, through its transformative Learning and Engagement programme and its industry-leading Fellowship and Young Composers programmes, supporting musicians at the start of their careers.

LUCY HOLLINS

Creative Director
National Youth Choirs of Great Britain

23-25 April 2026 will see 33rd Bangor International Choral Festival take place!  We would be delighted to welcome your choir and although we can’t guarantee trophies, we can definitely guarantee a warm Irish Welcome – you might arrive as visitors but you will leave as friends!

So why don’t you download the Entry Form and Syllabus and start making plans to travel to the City of Bangor.  We’re waiting to hear from you!

Festival Committee

Registered Charity No. NIC 104822

Download Entry Form
Download Syllabus