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
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.
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.
The whole day was brilliant!
NYO Inspire musician
The feeling each and every audience member brings to you as you perform on stage means a lot.
Patrick
— Viola
I was very touched when one Year 7 pupil stayed behind after the lesson with a million questions about cor anglais and oboes, and seeing his face when he was told they had a school oboe he could play on.
Esme
— Oboe
We’re one big community. It’s important to share, teach and learn things from each other, whether that’s by talking or playing music.
Erika
— Flute
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 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
Music should be part of everyone’s lives, whether or not they go on to become professional performers, and NYO is the living proof.
Donor
— Southbank concert
Stories from our musicians
- Inspire Journeys
I want to open up orchestral music for my generation by taking part in projects in schools around the country, showing young people what NYO is and how orchestral music can be accessible to everyone.
- Orchestra Experiences
- Inspire Journeys
Here, I enrich myself musically and share my passion of music with others, and simply enjoy being a part of something bigger than myself.
- Orchestra Experiences
- Inspire Journeys
- Orchestra Experiences
NYO brings out my best self and allows me to become a better trumpet player and collaborator.
- Orchestra Experiences
- Orchestra Experiences
I really enjoy making amazing music with my friends who are very passionate about music just like me.
- Orchestra Experiences