about us
“the most uplifting orchestra in the world” The Times, April 2008
Since its first performance in 1948, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain has engaged 100s musicians aged 13 to 19 in a unique orchestra experience. We aim to share this experience with audiences nationally through fresh, relevant and inspirational performances with outstanding international artists like conductors Vasily Petrenko and Antonio Pappano. The NYO reaches a national audience in excess of 1.4 million through its concerts, educational projects, radio and television broadcasts.
Three times a year, a vast symphony orchestra of 160 young musicians meets for a residential course comprising intensive sectional rehearsals and holistic workshops for voice, movement, conducting, improvisation and musicology. During each course and on other occasions throughout the year, our musicians also explore their creativity in different sized ensembles, fuelling the perceptions and energy they bring to their main symphonic repertoire whilst opening up new relationships with artists and venues and enabling us to meet other young people in a wider range of spaces.
Running concurrently with the orchestral programme, the NYO Composers’ Course gives young composers the opportunity to write new music in dialogue with young players and see their ideas brought instantly to life.
In the words of ex-NYOer Mark Simpson, ‘Each course is enriching and life-enhancing – you experience things that you don’t in everyday life. It’s intense. The feel of each course differs, depending on what we play and who we’re playing with. It’s not just an orchestra that gives exciting and inspirational concerts, it is also an organisation which offers young musicians the chance to meet like-minded people, be taught by the best musicians in the profession and work with world-renowned conductors. It is simply one of the most important threads in the fabric of British musical life.’
NYO musicians are recruited annually from a broad range of backgrounds across Great Britain. Any player of Grade 8 standard and any promising young composer can audition for a place. Candidates are selected by musical potential and ability, and their membership fees are significantly subsided, with bursaries offered to all members in need of financial support.
The Orchestra’s alumni are some of the world’s finest musicians, including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Mark Elder, David Pyatt, Antony Pay, Peter Cropper, Daniel Harding, Guy Johnston, Alison Balsom and conductor Robin Ticciati. Some of the UK’s most celebrated contemporary composers, including Judith Weir and Thomas Adès, are also NYO graduates.
The National Youth Orchestra is a registered charity no 290598 and a company registered in England no 1858278. VAT reg no 218 6738 40. Registered address: Zetland House 5-25 Scrutton Street London EC2A 4HJ.