Michael C. Brewer is musical director

Music director

A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...

 of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain

National Youth Choirs of Great Britain

The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain is the name given to a family of choirs for young singers in the United Kingdom. It comprises a total of eight choirs and in the 2009/2010 season almost 800 young people between the ages of 8 and 23 participated in the choirs.-About the choirs:The...

. He also conducts Laudibus, a chamber choir

Choir

A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...

. Brewer has a master of music

Master of Music

The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...

 degree and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

 in 1995.

Career

He began his career as a schoolteacher. In 1966 he was appointed Head of Music at the Royal Liberty Grammar School, Romford, where he established a large and thriving choir which performed several great works including Bach's "Christmas Oratorio", Mozart's "Requiem" and Haydn's "Creation". During his time in Romford he also founded the Havering Youth Choir. In 1969 he co-wrote an opera, "The Sword In The Stone", a modern work based upon the legend of King Arthur. In 1970 he moved to become Head of Music at The Latymer School

The Latymer School

The Latymer School is a selective, mixed grammar school in Edmonton, north London, England.- Examination procedures :Approximately 180 pupils are admitted to Year 7 annually. Places are awarded on the basis of competitive examination, though 20 are reserved for students with exceptional musical...

.

In 1983 he took the decision with Carl Browning to establish the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. Since then he has been instrumental in forming the NYC's approach to the development of young singers.

He is adviser on world music to the International Federation of Choral Music^{http://ifcm.net/} and assessor to Mexico’s choral programme.

Competition judge

Brewer is consultant for 20 various UK choirs and has been adjudicator for the finals of “Choir of the Year” and the National Festival of Music for Youth

Music for Youth

Music for Youth is a British charity which provides free access to educational and performance opportunities for groups of young musicians and audiences through a series of festivals and concerts throughout the UK. 2 million children have taken part in Music for Youth events since 1971...

in the UK and in international competitions.

Author

Brewer has written books for Fabermusic, including Kickstart your Choir, Warmups, Improve Your Sightsinging (with Paul Harris) and Finetune your Choir. He has published two sets of African songs, Hamba Lulu and Babevuya. Other works are Playpiece, commissioned for the Aberdeen Festival, and Worldsong, performed in the Schools’ Proms 2005.

Brewer was a Churchill Fellow for 2002–3. In 2006–7 his tours took in Mexico, Venezuela, the United States, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, and the Seychelles.