National Youth Orchestra seeks young Northern musicians.

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The National Youth Orchestra has opened entry for its NYO 2024 and NYO Inspire programmes and is actively seeking applications from young Northern musicians.

NYO 2024 is for teenage musicians playing orchestral instruments at Grade 8 and above. The fun and friendly audition process is free and there’s no need for students to have taken graded exams, this is just a benchmark level.

The NYO community is jam-packed with like-minded musicians who want to share their music with other young people, take on audacious musical challenges and take part in awe-inspiring performances in UK concert halls, schools and surprising spaces and places.

Applications close on 29 May 2023 with first round video auditions to be submitted by June 11. Final round assessments in person take place in September. These take place across the UK and are led by NYO tutors (all of whom are professional musicians) alongside NYO alumni who help to run creative workshops as part of the audition process.

For students playing at Grade 6 and above, the NYO Inspire Programme offers the chance for young musicians to take their skills and talents to the next level. NYO Inspire is a series of free ensemble music opportunities including one-day events and residencies structured around weekends and school holidays. The programme accelerates learning for musicians who are traditionally under-represented or who may experience barriers in taking their playing to the next level.

There are no auditions for the NYO Inspire Programme and applications are open year round, with full details available on the NYO website.

Stockport flautist,Sofia Patterson-Gutierrez, 19, said of her time with the NYO: “Being part of NYO has had one of the biggest impacts on my life – I have made such amazing friendships and it has really pushed me and motivated me to carry on being a musician. I remember shaking sitting in the first tutti rehearsal, blown away by the power and amazing energy surrounding me, which is something I have never felt anywhere else. What could have been a really daunting experience was made so enjoyable by other musicians and support staff who made me feel at home. Being part of NYO not only helps me improve as an individual musician, but also helps develop the skills I have learnt in working with others in such a high energy environment.” 

French horn player Toby Johnson Jones , an 18-year old musician from Oldham who is due to study at the Royal Northern College of Music next year, added: “I initially joined the NYO Inspire programme and that led to being invited to be part of the Inspire Orchestra.  For the last two years I have been an orchestral member of the National Youth Orchestra in the French horn section.  I have made some brilliant friends and the tutors and organisation are so supportive.  Each NYO experience is so different and exciting, it just wants you to become a better musician and spread the word about the amazing time you have.”

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