History

The National Youth Orchestra has a proud history of supporting teenagers’ aspirations. We were founded by Dame Ruth Railton in 1948 as a post-war symbol of hope and confidence in the UK’s young people.

For over 70 years, NYO’s pioneering spirit has made us an award-winning leader in music education and a champion of teenage potential. NYO alumni gone on to leading roles in classical music all over the world and in all walks of life.

Sophie conducts the NYO at the BBC Proms

July - NYO musicians create their own encore conducted by Sophie, perhaps the youngest conductor ever at the BBC Proms.

2022

July - #NYOHopeExchange fires up post-pandemic hope through music with 200 musicians, 4 orchestras and audiences in 8 locations UK-wide.

2021

July - Hundreds of teenagers join #NYOmightyriver from their bedrooms to celebrate black voices in classical music. The project is awarded UK Youth's Inspiring Inclusivity Award.

2020

April - 10,000 people play their part in #NYOdetojoy, in a huge socially distanced orchestra.

2020

NYO plays in chateaus, parks, markets places & even the swimming pool, in residence at the Festival Berlioz in France

2017

NYO performance of Mahler’s Symphony No.9 at the Young Euro Classical Festival in Berlin receives a standing ovation.

2015

NYO Inspire goes national, creating opportunities for hundreds more teenagers to make music a bigger part of their lives.

2014

NYO tours to Northern Ireland for the first time as part of the Derry-Londonderry City of Culture celebrations.

2013

The National Youth Orchestra is awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music to recognise 64 years of outstanding achievement by Britain’s teenage musicians.

2012

NYO Inspire programme trial with NYO musicians leading a day of playing and sharing music to inspire others in the North East.

2011

By its 60th anniversary, The National Youth Orchestra has nurtured 4,800 young musicians and performed over 550 concerts.

2008

Marin Alsop becomes the first woman to conduct a National Youth Orchestra concert.

2004

International trumpet soloist, Alison Balsam was a trumpet player with the Orchestra as a teenager. She describes “playing in NYO was life changing”.

1994

Sir Simon Rattle returns to The National Youth Orchestra as a conductor at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. He was a percussion player with the Orchestra in 1971.

1984

Yehudi Menuhin joins The National Youth Orchestra to perform Berg’s Violin Concerto. He was a great admirer of Dame Ruth Railton’s educational practice.

1971

Composer and conductor Benjamin Britten becomes President of The National Youth Orchestra.

1966

The National Youth Orchestra tours Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Caesarea and Athens.

1964

The National Youth Orchestra tours behind the iron curtain visiting Kruschev’s Soviet Union as well as Germany and Sweden. British Pathé film captures the Moscow performance.

1961

The National Youth Orchestra performs for the first time at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. NYO has performed at the Proms every year since.

“I swear the temperature actually rises in the Royal Albert Hall when we play.”

- Ashley, trombone

1955

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth becomes Royal Patron of The National Youth Orchestra.

1953

110 young musicians meet for the first NYO residency. They perform together for the first time at the Assembly Rooms, Bath with conductor Reginald Jacques.

1948

Dame Ruth Railton recruits teenage musicians for the world’s first National Youth Orchestra. Over 2,000 young people apply.

1947

It was a truly inspiring day to see so many young people getting so much out of being part of this wonderful organisation.

Donor

— Spring open rehearsal

NYO is about so much more than being in a top-level orchestra. It’s a way for us to spread music to as many people as possible, who otherwise might never experience the power and beauty of classical music.

Alice

— Violin

When you play, it takes you away from difficulties in life

Prince, cello

I’ve had so many comments from staff and students saying how inspirational the day was and how much they enjoyed everything from the workshops to the performances.

Daniel Corrigan

— Head of Music, Radclyffe School

the experience of NYO over the past three years has been life changing for me. I always come back energised from any NYO course, with a renewed sense of purpose and self confidence.

Robert

— Horn

NYO has given me a confidence that I never thought I could have. I feel accepted and listened to and so enjoy being part of a big bass section.

Anonymous

To give a free place on an NYO project, that is SO kind! To be able to have the opportunity and not worry about the cost is amazing, really, just amazing.

Ellie

— Percussion

I’ve never been part of NYO before and I had a really great time [on the Spring residency], especially meeting young musicians from around the country.

Jacqueline

— Cello