Play your part in the NYO community

Make music an even bigger part of your life.

As part of The National Youth Orchestra’s super-friendly community, you’ll find a place to shape your world.

Ready to open up your musical world?
Join NYO Inspire

NYO Inspire: Start Your NYO Musical Adventure

NYO Inspire is for teenage musicians facing barriers and lack of opportunity. There are no auditions and opportunities are FREE. The door is always open to take part.

With exciting musical opportunities throughout the year, you’ll take your music making and your confidence to a whole new level.

Ready to open up your musical world?
Join NYO Inspire

Ready to play your part as a musician and change maker? Apply to join the Orchestra

The Orchestra: Becoming a change maker for your generation

Ready to play your part as a musician and change maker? Join NYO

Play your part in ‘the world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers’.

Come together with others from across the UK to share your passion, thrill audiences and inspire other teenagers.

You’ll be playing at an advanced level but don’t need music exam certificates. We offer free auditions, workshops and constructive feedback for all.

Applications re-open in March 2024.

The NYO Adventure: Find out about how we work

Take a look behind the scenes and find out what makes joining the NYO community, the greatest adventure in orchestral music.

From the exceptional challenges to the opportunities to inspire others, it’s an exciting and growing community to be part of.

Read about the NYO adventure

NYO Open - orchestral music for everyone

Our musicians are opening the doors for everyone to play, listen live and create orchestral music. The only condition is to be a teenager (or a teen supporter!).

Tickets for orchestral music are free, and musical events are for a wide range of instruments, abilities and all backgrounds.

These activities welcome all teenagers, music educators and youth organisations.

Find out about NYO Open

If we were able to inspire anyone in the audience or at the schools’ workshops to take up a musical instrument, I think that is an incredible thing.

Alice

— Violin

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

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

Being at NYO is my favourite time of year.

India

— Violin

Some of my most memorable experiences in music come from playing with other musicians. Not only does NYO give you these opportunities, but it takes them all across the UK.

Andrew

From the second you arrive, you feel as though you’re joining a musical family, as it’s such a safe and encouraging environment

NYO Inspire musician

When I’m inside the music and playing with others I feel a kind of relief from everything going on.

Louis

— Cello

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