The NYO Adventure

Being part of The National Youth Orchestra is the greatest adventure teenage musicians can have through orchestral music.

Find out more about our unique approach to accelerating teenager development through the elements of community spirit, taking on challenges, playing their part and sharing their voices.

Community spirit

The NYO adventure is about teenagers from across the UK, representing regions and different backgrounds, making music together.

It’s about community spirit, seeing the best in each other and wanting the best for each other. Everyone contributes to a safe, happy and optimistic community.

Our pastoral Support Team and world class tutors encourage musicians with their expertise and knowledge. When musicians engage in a workshop, rehearse together, create music or perform they have the generous support and trust of the whole NYO community.

Taking on challenges

The adventure is about taking on exceptional musical challenges, sharing a common purpose and working for collective success.

It’s about getting behind the greatest orchestral music of all time, from masterworks to the most cutting-edge new voices, and seeking energy and excitement in musical performance. It’s about trying things out, making music in new ways, and pioneering new presentation of music. And it’s about finding new destinations – new locations, new audiences, and mediums.

Playing their part

We all know that music education is not equally available to all young people across the UK. Our musicians take action to do something about this, taking music and experiences to other young people in concert halls, primary and secondary schools and youth centres.

On the adventure musicians discover they are powerful role models, who can encourage other young people’s musical curiosity and aspirations, and foster understanding, and wellbeing through music.

Sharing teenage voices

The adventure is fuelled by what matters to teenage musicians – the music they make, and the causes they back through the power of orchestral music.

They raise their voices to advocate for young people and their musical opportunities.

We’re kicking off 2025 at the Barbican in London! 😮🎶

160 musicians. One stage. Incredible music.
This Winter, we return to the @barbicancentre with Illuminate. Get ready to be amazed by the power of The National Youth Orchestra. Tickets are Free for Teens. 

Looking for a musical escape? Let Smetana’s Vltava carry you through the week, performed live by the Orchestra of 2024 and Sir Mark Elder. 

Book Now (link in bio)
850+ musicians united in their love of music. Six locations across the UK. New ideas. New friendships. New music.

NYO Unite 2025 brought hundreds of musicians from the NYO Community together. 🙌

150 local musicians from Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Lancaster, Wales, London and Brighton played their part too, experiencing the power of playing music together. 🎻🎶

Join the NYO adventure. Visit our website to find out what part YOU can play in The National Youth Orchestra. Link in bio.
LIVE in concert this January! ✨🎶

Feel the power of orchestral music like never before. Join us in the audience for Illuminate and watch a new generation of teenage musicians playing without limits. 🙌

🏟️ @barbicancentre, @warwickarts and @royalnottingham 

Tickets are Free for Teens. Book now. Link in bio.
Welcome to the Orchestra of 2025! 🥁🎻🚀

The musicians will bring fresh energy to epic masterworks, and perform cutting-edge new work from contemporary composers in the country’s most iconic concert venues.

They will lead the way as changemakers for their generation, with performances and workshops in schools and youth spaces nationwide. 🙌

See the Orchestra of 2025 live in concert halls this winter. Tickets for the first tour of the year, in London, Coventry and Nottingham, are on sale now. Link in bio.
Play Saxophone in NYO! 🎷

Are you a teenage Saxophonist playing at advanced level? Imagine taking your seat in a cutting-edge orchestra, surrounded by 160 musicians your age and playing amazing music together. 🤩🎶

Never heard Saxophone in an orchestra before? Here’s the solo from Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, performed by Rosemary and the Orchestra of 2022, live at the Warwick Arts Centre.

Play your part. Saxophone applications are now open. 

Apply by 3 November. Link in bio.
NYO Inspire empowers teenagers to take their playing to the next level. 🚀🎶

With residencies, meet-ups and incredible tutors, young musicians like Logan are developing skills, learning new techniques, and sharing their passion for music with others.

Start your free musical adventure this month - apply to join NYO Inspire today!

Apply via link in bio.

#NYOInspire
NYO percussionist, Charlie from Northern Ireland performing at his old primary school on BBC Young Musician! 🥁

Every NYO musician plays their part, sharing orchestral music in their local community. In this clip, Charlie goes back to his primary school to inspire pupils with the power of percussion!

You can watch the full episode at the link in our bio.

Stories from our musicians