{"id":29440,"date":"2023-06-27T18:04:39","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T16:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=186026"},"modified":"2023-06-27T18:39:59","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T16:39:59","slug":"what-is-the-national-youth-orchestra-of-great-britain","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/what-is-the-national-youth-orchestra-of-great-britain\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain?"},"content":{"rendered":"

All you need to know about this hugely admired British orchestra, open to teenagers who are passionate about performing classical music <\/p>

By Steve Wright\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 27 June 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

It\u2019s making two appearances at the 2023 BBC Proms<\/a>. But what is the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYO)? Where are its members drawn from, and how do you apply to join? Who are its illustrious past players?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Read on for all your essential NYO facts\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain?<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s an orchestra made up of teenage musicians from across the UK. They come from very different backgrounds \u2013 but they\u2019re \u2018bound together by their love for orchestral music, and their desire to open up orchestral music to other young musicians\u2019.<\/p>\n\n<h3>When was the orchestra founded?<\/h3>\n<p>The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain was founded in 1948, soon after World War II, by conductor and music director <a href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ruth_Railton"\"><strong>Ruth Railton<\/strong><\/a>. Despite opposition from the establishment, Ruth bought young musicians from across Great Britain together for the very first time.<\/p>\n<p>During its first 20 years NYO was often deployed by the establishment, government and media as a powerful cultural asset, touring across Europe to showcase Britain. It was even sent behind the Iron Curtain as a cultural ambassador to Russia.<\/p>\n<ul><li><strong><a class=\""standard-card-new__article-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/worlds-best-orchestras\/"\">The best orchestras in the world<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><h3>Which famous musicians played with the NYO as teenagers?<\/h3>\n<p>Quite a few! The orchestra\u2019s alumni include <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/sir-mark-elder-wins-recording-year-elgar-apostles\/"\"><strong>Mark Elder<\/strong><\/a> (bassoon, 1964-65), <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/guide-music-judith-weir\/"\"><strong>Judith Weir<\/strong><\/a> (oboe, 1970), <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/who-is-simon-rattle\/"\"><strong>Simon Rattle<\/strong><\/a> (percussion, 1971), <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/thomas-ades\/"\"><strong>Thomas Ad\u00e8s<\/strong><\/a> (percussion, 1988), <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/orchestral\/alison-balsom-italian-concertos\/"\"><strong>Alison Balsom<\/strong><\/a> (trumpet, 1994-97), <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/orchestral\/ticciati-and-scottish-chamber-orchestra-performs-brahms\/"\"><strong>Robin Ticciati<\/strong><\/a> (violinist and percussionist, 1999-2002) and <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/anna-lapwood-signs-to-sony-classical\/"\"><strong>Anna Lapwood<\/strong><\/a> (harp, 2011-2012).<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Proms\" gustav=\"\" holst=\"\" the=\"\" planets=\"\" gardner=\"\" national=\"\" youth=\"\" orchestra=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MgIOBa4vK2E?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<h3>Who has conducted the National Youth Orchestra?<\/h3>\n<p>Each year\u2019s course is directed by a distinguished conductor. Maestros to have led the NYO in the past include\u00a0Marin Alsop,\u00a0<strong><a title=\""Ji\u0159\u00ed\" b=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/jiri-belohlavek-interview\/"\">Ji\u0159\u00ed B\u011blohl\u00e1vek<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<a title=\""Pierre\" boulez=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/pierre-boulez-remembered\/"\"><strong>Pierre Boulez<\/strong><\/a>, Adrian Boult, Malcolm Sargent, Colin Davis, Edward Gardner,\u00a0<strong><a title=\""Antonio\" pappano=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/antonio-pappano\/"\">Antonio Pappano<\/a><\/strong>, <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/who-is-simon-rattle\/"\"><strong>Simon Rattle<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong><a title=\""Mstislav\" rostropovich=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mstislav_Rostropovich"\">Mstislav Rostropovich<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>What else does the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain do?<\/h3>\n<p>The orchestra welcomes a further 800 musicians each year for NYO Inspire, a free diversity initiative for teenage musicians from state schools who are facing limited opportunities, and those from backgrounds underrepresented in orchestral music. It also meets 8,000 teenage audiences in their own spaces through NYO Open, and offers teenagers free tickets to its performances.<\/p>\n<ul><li><strong><a class=\""standard-card-newarticle-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/european-union-baroque-orchestra-returns\/"\">European Union Baroque Orchestra returns<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>NYO champions and commissions new music by women composers and composers of colour, a commitment that was recognised in 2021 when the orchestra was awarded the UK Youth Inspiring Inclusivity Award.<\/p>\n<p>The BBC broadcasts all NYO concerts on Radio 3.<\/p>\n<ul><li><strong><a class=\""standard-card-newarticle-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/what-european-union-youth-orchestra\/"\">What is the European Union Youth Orchestra?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><h2>How do you join the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain?<\/h2>\n<p>Membership is by audition. First auditions are digital: performers who make it through that stage are then invited to audition in person.<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""BBC\" proms=\"\" national=\"\" youth=\"\" orchestra=\"\" of=\"\" great=\"\" britain=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d3FZPM4akAg?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<h3>How long do you stay a NYO member for?<\/h3>\n<p>NYO musicians make an eleven-month commitment, starting in October 2023 and culminating in August 2024, with projects mainly structured around school holidays and some weekends. Every NYO musician will engage, live and digitally, for around 40 days.<\/p>\n<h3>How much does NYO membership cost?<\/h3>\n<p>First round video auditions are free, including feedback and suggestions of further opportunities.\u00a0Final round in-person assessment days are also free and supported by travel and accommodation bursaries for those who need them.<\/p>\n<p>The NYO also invests over \u00a310,000 in each musician every year. In 2024, the orchestra asks each musician to contribute \u00a32,370 towards this cost, and works with its supporter community to help raise the rest.<\/p>\n<p>Musicians will not be turned away on financial grounds. \u2018We understand that for some the level of contribution may be out of reach,\u2019 the orchestra\u2019s website says. \u2018Don\u2019t give up now, we want to hear about what you need: our bursary scheme is generous, considering both means and expenditure,; aiming to help with some, or all, of the contribution. We can also guide you in applying to other organisations for funding help.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><em>Pic: Matt Jolly<\/em><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> All you need to know about this hugely admired British orchestra, open to teenagers who are passionate about performing classical music <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":29441,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/what-is-the-national-youth-orchestra-of-great-britain.jpg",1280,960,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/what-is-the-national-youth-orchestra-of-great-britain-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/what-is-the-national-youth-orchestra-of-great-britain-300x225.jpg",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/what-is-the-national-youth-orchestra-of-great-britain-768x576.jpg",768,576,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/what-is-the-national-youth-orchestra-of-great-britain-1024x768.jpg",800,600,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/what-is-the-national-youth-orchestra-of-great-britain.jpg",1280,960,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/06\/what-is-the-national-youth-orchestra-of-great-britain.jpg",1280,960,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"All you need to know about this hugely admired British orchestra, open to teenagers who are passionate about performing classical music","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/29440"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}