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.
Certified percussion fans right here... 🥁✨
BBC Young Musician 2022, Jordan Ashman chats with NYO percussionist Lily, about his musical adventure and what makes playing a percussion concerto so special.
Jordan joined the Orchestra on stage in April 2025 for some breathtaking performances of Jennifer Higdon’s Percussion Concerto as part of our To the Beat tour. 🙌
Full 📽️ on YT | 🔗 in the normal place...
#drums #percussion #music #orchestra
Step into the world of percussion! 💥🥁
The National Youth Orchestra perform Jennifer Higdon’s Percussion Concerto in dialogue with soloist, @jordan_ashman_percussion and conductor @alpeshconductor at the @roundhouseldn in London back in April.
The full performance is now streaming on our YouTube channel! 🎬✨
This performance was part of Roundhouse Three Sixty, a boundary-pushing festival of music and culture powered by young people. NYO teamed up with young people from Roundhouse`s Behind the Lens programme to film the performance.
NYO return to Nottingham this Winter! 🤩
Join us on 6 Jan 7.30pm as we bring ✨Shimmer✨ to @royalnottingham.
Feel the incredible power of The National Youth Orchestra, as they take you on an incredible musical journey, together with conductor @alexandrebloch and cellist @inbalsegevcello
. 🌠 🎶
Play your part in the audience.💥
Tickets are Free for Teens. Book now.
You’re officially invited to Shimmer! ✨
160 musicians. Powerful performances. Iconic music. Join us on our Shimmer tour! 🤩🎶
“It’s something that everyone should experience at least once” 🙌
📍4 Jan Barbican, London
📍5 Jan Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
📍6 Jan Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
Tickets are Free for Teens.
This moment 🔥
Feel the incredible power of The National Youth Orchestra in our first performance of 2026, as we come back to @barbicancentre on 4 January with Shimmer. 💫
🎶 Full performance of Nielsen’s Symphony No.4, live from Barbican Hall with @jaime_martin_conductor, now available on our YouTube channel.
Stories from our musicians
- Inspire Journeys
- Orchestra Experiences
- Inspire Journeys
- Orchestra Experiences
- Inspire Journeys
- Orchestra Experiences
- Orchestra Experiences
- Orchestra Experiences
- Inspire Journeys