We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Alpesh Chauhan OBE as Principal Conductor & Musical Advisor.
Alpesh will work closely with our leadership team to shape the orchestra’s artistic direction and champion NYO’s mission to make orchestral music powerfully relevant to all teenage lives. He will inspire NYO musicians to show their peers that orchestral music can speak in the language of their generation.
This appointment builds on the partnership forged during NYO’s To the Beat tour last Spring, when Alpesh conducted the Orchestra at Camden’s Roundhouse, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and Wigan Youth Zone. As part of the role this year, Alpesh will conduct the Orchestra on their Spring tour in April 2026, performing Romeo and Juliet and other works in Manchester and London.
“I’m so pleased to start working with The National Youth Orchestra in this new role! My first time working with them was in the Spring and I was inspired by the musical prowess and artistic integrity that these exceptional young musicians bring. Their dedication to working hard with a hunger to always be better and constantly explore the repertoire deeper, is very special.
They’re a showcase and remarkable example to other young people of being part of a vibrant community and working together to create brilliance through collaboration and commitment. I hugely look forward to the larger-scale projects together as well as the community endeavours to inspire and embrace their own age group. As well as taking on the advisory part of the new role to help shape the orchestra’s artistic direction. I can’t wait to get started working with this new generation of teenage musicians.” Alpesh Chauhan OBE, Principal Conductor & Musical Advisor
“We’re delighted that Alpesh will play a key part in the Orchestra this year, leading one of the orchestra’s major projects and supporting NYO’s teenage musicians as an advocate for their extraordinary creativity.” Sarah Alexander OBE, CEO & Creative Director