About NYO Inspire
NYO Inspire is a musical adventure for teenagers who want music to be a bigger part of their lives but face barriers and lack of opportunity to progress.
Explore new ideas, meet new friends, visit new places and achieve your goals in a friendly community of teenage musicians.
NYO Inspire is completely free. There are no auditions. We also offer bursaries for travel.
Who can join NYO Inspire
NYO Inspire is open to musicians aged 13-18 years playing orchestral instruments.
NYO Inspire is designed to support equity in music education and unlock potential. This programme is for teenagers with determination, potential and passion for music, playing at a level equivalent to Grade 6 (and above), but there’s no need to have taken formal exams.
We prioritise those with the greatest need for a place by providing opportunities for teenage musicians who are currently underrepresented in orchestral music.
We welcome applications from teenagers who attend state school or are home-schooled, or come from a Black, Asian or ethnically diverse background, from any educational context.
Each musician’s experience will differ as we tailor it to your musical needs.
If you’re not eligible? Sign up for an NYO Open event to experience high quality music making opportunities with other young people, grade 3 to 8+. We have some creative opportunities for all instruments too. You’ll find details on the events page.
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A musical adventure
Be inspired by the creativity and passion of other musicians. Play extraordinary music together. Accelerate your musicianship with coaching from incredible tutors. Open up your future.
A year in NYO Inspire could involve:
October
NYO Unite
An epic day of music making uniting musicians from the whole NYO community, including the Orchestra and NYO Inspire.
February
Inspire Ensembles
Three-day residencies for strings, woodwind, brass, harp, percussion and creative ensembles or non-orchestral instruments.
July
Inspire Orchestra
Ten days of full orchestra activity including workshops, rehearsals and performances to teenage audiences.
Throughout the Year
Events include:
Inspire Instrument Days, chances to attend NYO residencies, Free for Teens tickets, Play the City opportunities, digital and NYO community meet ups.
How to join
You can sign up for NYO Inspire at any point during the year, but be sure to sign up by the end of August to access a full year of opportunities.
To join, you just need to create an account on the Musicians’ Portal and complete an application form to tell us why you need this opportunity. There are some questions that you may need your parent or carer to help you with.
If you are a music educator, talk to our friendly team about encouraging the motivated teenage musicians you know to join NYO Inspire. Or look at NYO Open to explore opportunities for everyone.
If you have previously taken part in NYO Inspire and you want to take part again, you’ll need to re-apply.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does NYO Inspire cost?
NYO Inspire is completely free for young people facing lack of opportunities for musical development.
All activities are funded through the generous support of sponsors including Arts Council England and ABRSM, and the kind donations of our supporters.
Can I still apply if I’m not 13-18 years old?
If you don’t quite fit the age bracket, we encourage you to get in touch with us before you apply: email inspire@nyo.org.uk.
What instruments can I apply to play at NYO Inspire?
You can apply to play orchestral instruments including: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, orchestral percussion, harp, orchestral keyboard and saxophone.
We are developing creative projects for non-orchestral instruments, so please take a leap and apply, whatever your instrument, to meet other young musicians. You can simply select ‘other’ when you fill out your application and let us know which instrument you play.
Can I apply for more than one instrument?
Yes. If you’d like to apply for more than one instrument, you can let us know on Step 1 of the application form. You can indicate your ‘Primary Instrument’ and ‘Secondary Instrument’ on the application form. We suggest you choose the instrument you are most competent on for your ‘Primary Instrument’.
You don’t need to complete two separate application forms.
How will you support me?
We put you first, ahead of music making.
Our expert pastoral Support Team is dedicated to ensuring you develop a strong sense of belonging, have fun and can do your best.
Who can I contact if I have any questions?
If you have any questions, please email the Inspire team at inspire@nyo.org.uk
Stories from Inspire musicians
- Inspire Journeys
- Inspire Journeys
- 13 September 2023
- Inspire Journeys
- 13 September 2023
- Inspire Journeys
- 13 September 2023
- Inspire Journeys
- 13 September 2023
- Inspire Journeys
- Inspire Journeys
- Inspire Journeys