BBC Radio 4 appeal announced

The countdown is on! Join us to welcome Alison Balsom international trumpet soloist to present our BBC Radio 4 Charity Appeal, which begins on Sunday, to help us raise money and create development opportunities for more teenage musicians who need them.

The countdown is on! Join us to welcome Alison Balsom international trumpet soloist to present our BBC Radio 4 Charity Appeal, which begins on Sunday, to help us raise money and create development opportunities for more teenage musicians who need them.

This is a cause very close to Alison’s heart, being part of NYO as a teenager opened up her future. We are thrilled that she shares our commitment to give many more musical teenagers access to new ideas, new experiences, new friends and new music to master in our nationwide community.

NYO Inspire is our programme of high-quality musical opportunities for hundreds of teenagers to build confidence, well-being, and abilities, through orchestral music. NYO Inspire is free, because for many the powerful impact of orchestral music is out of reach – opportunities are extremely limited, hard to access, and unaffordable for many families. We open doors for musical young people and enable them to take their skills to the next level, together.

The donations we receive from the BBC Radio 4 appeal will be hugely important in helping us reach thousands of teenagers, through NYO Inspire, helping them develop their potential.

You can hear our appeal on Radio 4 from Sunday 19 February to Saturday 25 February, as well as online via the BBC website. Please note donations to the NYO BBC Radio 4 appeal can only be made between Sunday 19 and Saturday 25 February.

Image: Alison Balsom performing with the National Youth Orchestra during her time as a member (1994-1997).