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.

Itโ€™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.

Itโ€™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. Itโ€™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 peopleโ€™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 โ€“ 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.

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The Orchestra of 2026 are tuning in for a big year! ๐Ÿ’ซ

From city to shore, town to countryside, teenage musicians from every corner of the UK are tuning in to the greatest musical adventure of their lives.

160 musicians. One cutting-edge orchestra. A shared love of music.

Stay tuned โ€“ the adventure starts now.
tomorrowโ€ฆ..
Behind the scenes in rehearsal with @jaime_martin_conductor.ย ๐Ÿคฉ๐ŸŽป

Adding flair to Nielsenโ€™s Symphony No. 4ย ๐Ÿค 

๐ŸŽฅย Full performance from the Barbican available on our YouTube.
The National Youth Orchestra illuminate the Barbican! ๐Ÿคฉ๐ŸŽถ

Feel the power of 160 teenagers perform Nielsenโ€™s Symphony No. 4 with @jaime_martin_conductor, live from @barbicancentre last year.

๐Ÿ’ฅย Full recording is now streaming on NYOโ€™s YouTube channel.

Join NYO at the Barbican on Sunday 4 Jan for Shimmer. Tickets are on sale now, and free for teenagers. ๐Ÿ™Œ
Classical? Not today ๐Ÿ˜Ž
Itโ€™s time for Petrushka! ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿ”ฅ

Watch The National Youth Orchestra and @alpeshconductor bring Stravinskyโ€™s Petrushka to life at @roundhouseldn. ๐Ÿคฉ Now streaming on our YouTube channel! ๐ŸŽฌโœจ

The 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 Roundhouseโ€™s Behind the Lens programme to film the performance, which opens up access to careers in film, TV, live broadcast and online media.

Stories from our musicians