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.

This Saturday at 7.30pm on BBC Two! 🤩🚀🌌

Experience the sold-out NYO Prom - at home!

🪐 Beyond: Star Wars & The Planets
💥 “The world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers”
✨ Conductor @daliastasevskaofficial
🎙️ Presenter @nickmohammedy

Also available to stream on @bbciplayer.

#BBCProms #orchestra #youthorchestra

304 3

Open

This Saturday at 7.30pm on BBC Two! 🤩🚀🌌

Experience the sold-out NYO Prom - at home!

🪐 Beyond: Star Wars & The Planets
💥 “The world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers”
✨ Conductor @daliastasevskaofficial
🎙️ Presenter @nickmohammedy

Also available to stream on @bbciplayer.

#BBCProms #orchestra #youthorchestra

Countdown to new music, new people and new opportunities. 🥁🎶🚀

With NYO Inspire, you will explore new music like never before, experience new ways of playing and dive right in to big orchestral sounds.

Play your part and open up your world. Apply by 30 September. 🙌

208 0

Open

Countdown to new music, new people and new opportunities. 🥁🎶🚀

With NYO Inspire, you will explore new music like never before, experience new ways of playing and dive right in to big orchestral sounds.

Play your part and open up your world. Apply by 30 September. 🙌

Power and drama in every note. 😯

You`re listening to the NYO Inspire Orchestra perform the fourth movement from Rimsky Korsakov`s Scheherazade ahead of their schools tour back in July. 🤩

Play incredible music like this, with people who love music just as much as you do.
Apply for NYO Inspire and start your free musical adventure! 🚀

305 3

Open

Power and drama in every note. 😯

You're listening to the NYO Inspire Orchestra perform the fourth movement from Rimsky Korsakov's Scheherazade ahead of their schools tour back in July. 🤩

Play incredible music like this, with people who love music just as much as you do.
Apply for NYO Inspire and start your free musical adventure! 🚀

Wait for it….🎻🌪️🤪

🎶 NYO Inspire Orchestra perform ‘MeChicano’ by Juan Pablo Contreras in rehearsal ahead of the schools tour back in July. 🤩🪇

Do you play an orchestral instrument at Grade 6 level or above?
Apply for NYO Inspire now and join the adventure! 🚀

356 0

Open

Wait for it….🎻🌪️🤪

🎶 NYO Inspire Orchestra perform ‘MeChicano’ by Juan Pablo Contreras in rehearsal ahead of the schools tour back in July. 🤩🪇

Do you play an orchestral instrument at Grade 6 level or above?
Apply for NYO Inspire now and join the adventure! 🚀

“Just go for it” 🎶✨

Thinking about applying for NYO Inspire? Hear from Lois, Gregor and Lucy as they share how NYO Inspire helped them grow as musicians and as people - building confidence, making friends from all over the UK and experiencing the power of making music together.

NYO Inspire is for teenagers who want to go further. 🚀

Applications are open. Apply now and open up your world.

252 0

Open

“Just go for it” 🎶✨

Thinking about applying for NYO Inspire? Hear from Lois, Gregor and Lucy as they share how NYO Inspire helped them grow as musicians and as people - building confidence, making friends from all over the UK and experiencing the power of making music together.

NYO Inspire is for teenagers who want to go further. 🚀

Applications are open. Apply now and open up your world.

✨ That’s a wrap on the Beyond tour! 🚀
 From Birmingham to Snape Maltings to a sold-out double bill at the BBC Proms, The National Youth Orchestra took audiences on a cosmic journey - pushing themselves further than ever and playing their part as changemakers for their generation along the way.

🎧 Listen: Full performance on BBC Sounds 📺 Watch: BBC Two & BBC iPlayer this season, coming soon 👀 Featured on BBC Proms ‘Must watch tracks 2025’ on @bbciplayer

If you’re a teenage musician and you want to get involved, or you’d like to book Free for Teens tickets to our next performance, head to our website.

487 2

Open

✨ That’s a wrap on the Beyond tour! 🚀
 From Birmingham to Snape Maltings to a sold-out double bill at the BBC Proms, The National Youth Orchestra took audiences on a cosmic journey - pushing themselves further than ever and playing their part as changemakers for their generation along the way.

🎧 Listen: Full performance on BBC Sounds 📺 Watch: BBC Two & BBC iPlayer this season, coming soon 👀 Featured on BBC Proms ‘Must watch tracks 2025’ on @bbciplayer

If you’re a teenage musician and you want to get involved, or you’d like to book Free for Teens tickets to our next performance, head to our website.

Meet conductor, @daliastasevskaofficial!☺️🎶

Dalia, the conductor for Beyond, chats to NYO’s Rebecca and Gabriel about why orchestral music is so important for young people — and how it helped her find her voice and go further. 🚀

Feel the power of music and the energy of 160-piece orchestra of teenagers. Join us at @brittenpearsarts tomorrow and at the Proms in London this weekend, or tune in live on @bbcradio3 on Saturday 7pm!

369 1

Open

Meet conductor, @daliastasevskaofficial!☺️🎶

Dalia, the conductor for Beyond, chats to NYO’s Rebecca and Gabriel about why orchestral music is so important for young people — and how it helped her find her voice and go further. 🚀

Feel the power of music and the energy of 160-piece orchestra of teenagers. Join us at @brittenpearsarts tomorrow and at the Proms in London this weekend, or tune in live on @bbcradio3 on Saturday 7pm!

Follow on Instagram

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

Prince, cello

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

Being able to learn from other people your age is so important

Andrew

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

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

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

Being at NYO is my favourite time of year.

India

— Violin

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

Stories from our musicians

Finn, Violin

Being part of NYO helps channel the part of me that loves performing and presenting and inspiring. I think there’s no better feeling than performing the music that you love to other people, and knowing that they are being inspired by it.