NYO Inspire

Start your free musical adventure with NYO Inspire. Open up your world and play your part.

Start your free musical adventure with NYO Inspire

What is NYO Inspire

A musical adventure for teenage musicians who are ready to go further.

Apply to join the biggest orchestral music community you’ve ever seen. Accelerate as a musician with world-class tutoring. Play incredible music with people who love music just as much as you do.

Everyone’s NYO Inspire experience is different. Grow through opportunities that match where you’re at on your musical journey, for free.

It’s time to open up your future and play your part.

Who can join NYO Inspire

13-18 year-old musicians who play orchestral instruments at a level equivalent to Grade 6-8+. You don’t need official grades, but you should be passionate about taking your playing to the next level.

We prioritise musicians with the greatest need for a place.

NYO Inspire is primarily for teenage musicians who go to state school, where there is a widespread lack of opportunity to progress in music.

The programme is also open to musicians who face systemic challenges accessing the musical opportunities they need. This includes teenage musicians who are home educated and musicians who are Black, Asian or ethnically diverse.

NYO Inspire brings together teenage musicians from across the nation, so you should be open to travelling within the UK to play your part in activities.

What if I’m not eligible? Sign up for an upcoming event in your local area. Our music-making events are open to musicians playing at grade 3 to 8+. These events are also open to non-orchestral instruments.

A musical adventure

Everyone’s adventure with NYO Inspire is different and not everyone will get to experience every NYO Inspire activity. We match musical opportunities to your needs and where you’re at on your musical journey.

Musicians who demonstrate their commitment to musical and personal development will have a great chance of being invited to play their part in every activity. Invitations are generally sent 2-3 months before each activity.

October

NYO Unite

An epic day of music-making uniting musicians from the whole NYO community, including the Orchestra, NYO Inspire and local musicians in your area.

Everyone who is successfully accepted onto the programme is invited to NYO Unite.

February

NYO Inspire Ensembles

Three-day residencies in orchestral family groups: strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. And creative ensembles for non-orchestral instruments.

For NYO Inspire musicians who have demonstrated commitment to their musical and personal development.

July

NYO Inspire Schools Tour

Residential activity where you will play in a full orchestra and take part in workshops and public performances.

For musicians who would thrive by taking part in this opportunity and have shown commitment to their NYO Inspire adventure across the whole year.

Late July

NYO Inspire Orchestra Experience

Two-day residency where Inspire musicians at different experience levels will work together to get the most out of playing as a full orchestra.

How to join

All you need to do is create an account and complete an application on the Musicians’ Portal for NYO Inspire 2027.

NYO Inspire is completely free and there are no auditions.

You need to re-apply every year for NYO Inspire even if you have previously taken part.

However, if you have applied for the Orchestra of 2027 and you’re eligible for NYO Inspire, you do not need to complete an application for NYO Inspire 2027.

There are some questions that you may need your parent or carer to help you with.

We will let you know if you’ve successfully secured a place on NYO Inspire within two working weeks of applying.

Applications are open until 30 September.

By signing up, in addition to NYO Inspire activities, you’ll also receive invites to free one-off events taking place in your local area.

Frequently asked questions

How much does NYO Inspire cost?

NYO Inspire is completely free.

All activities are funded through the kind donations of our supporters and generous support of sponsors. We ask musicians to arrange their own transport but travel bursaries are available for anyone who needs them. If you’re worried about transporting your instrument to an activity, we may also be able to help.

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. For example, if you are in Year 8 and will turn 13 later in the academic year.

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 apply whatever your instrument you play. 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 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 Youth Development team is dedicated to ensuring you develop a strong sense of belonging and you have everything you need to thrive.

If you have any worries or specific needs, we can arrange a conversation with our Youth Development team in advance, so you feel prepared and supported. Please email inspire@nyo.org.uk arrange this.

Why can’t you get into NYO Inspire if you go to an independent school?

What type of education you are taking part in is one of the biggest factors in determining what musical opportunities you have access to. Due to an increasing lack of music education in state schools, musicians who go to state school do not have as many musical opportunities as musicians who go to independent schools where music education provision is much more prevalent, inside and outside the classroom.

We recognise that not every independent school has high-level music education provision but on a national level, independent schools have more opportunities for musical progression than state schools. We need to ensure our eligibility requirements prioritise teenage musicians with the greatest need for a place.

Many musicians from NYO Inspire go on to secure a place in the Orchestra. Over the last decade, we have been working hard to ensure representation of state school musicians in the Orchestra and NYO Inspire supports us to achieve this.

What about other eligibility requirements for NYO Inspire, can you tell me more about that?

Whilst NYO Inspire is primarily for musicians who go to state school, we recognise that there are other factors which impact access to musical opportunity. That’s why we also welcome applications from musicians who are home educated and musicians who are Black, Asian or ethnically diverse in any type of education.

Will I need to take time off school?

We try our best to schedule activity in the school holidays, but school holiday dates across the UK don’t always match up, which means sometimes our dates clash with some school activity. If you have to miss school and are having trouble getting time off, we are more than happy to talk to the school and send a letter of support if required.