David Lewis, Founder of Young Voices, Awarded OBE in King's Birthday Honours

16 June 2025 - Press release

Young Voices is proud to announce that its founder, David Lewis, has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours List for his notable contributions and services to music in Britain.

David’s journey began in 1992 when, inspired by his love of Welsh male voice choirs, he created the World Choir. A male voice choir of 10,000 singers performed at Cardiff Arms Park, featuring performances from Sir Tom Jones and Dennis O’Neil. The following year the World Choir returned alongside Dame Shirley Bassey. 

In 1996, the first Young Voices concert was held in Dublin, after David was inundated with letters from schools requesting to be involved in his massed choir events. This concert was soon followed by events in Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham and London in 1997– marking the beginning of what would grow into the world’s largest school choir concert series.

Nearly three decades later, Young Voices has reached millions of children across the globe, giving them the opportunity to sing in world-class arenas alongside professional artists. The upcoming 30th Anniversary tour in 2026 will include over 210,000 children, performing in Sheffield, Birmingham, Manchester, and London’s The O2 and Wembley Arena. Internationally Young Voices have staged concerts in South Africa, USA, Trinidad & Tobago and Germany.

In 2016 Young Voices were presented The Key to The O2 after passing Prince’s 21-night run at the venue. As of 2025, Young Voices has staged 89 shows at the venue, more than any other artist.

In 2022, David received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Music & Drama Education Awards for his lasting contribution to music and education.

David Lewis said, “When I founded Young Voices 30 years ago, it was for a simple reason: to give every child a live music experience they would never forget. This honour is something I will cherish as it reflects the countless memories created over the years for the children, their families, and above all, our incredible Young Voices music teachers.”

Ben Lewis, CEO of Young Voices, added, "I'm extremely proud to see my dad recognised in this way. He's never sought the spotlight or accolades, but the impact of what he built truly speaks volumes. As we celebrate 30 years of Young Voices and surpass 3 million children who've taken part around the world, it's amazing to reflect on how far his bold, imaginative idea has come—and how much it has meant to so many."

David’s OBE is a fitting tribute to his vision, dedication and remarkable impact. His legacy lives on in the voices of the children who sing, grow and gain confidence through Young Voices each year.