Teenage musicians representing all areas of the UK will ignite passion for orchestral music at every level.
The National Youth Orchestra (NYO) has announced the arrival of the next generation of changemakers in orchestral music. Teenage musicians from across the UK will play their part as musicians and role models in the Orchestra of 2025.
Amidst diminishing opportunities in music education, NYO receives hundreds of applications from talented young musicians who want to share the power of orchestral music with other young people. With musicians from every corner of the UK —from Guernsey to Aberdeen— the Orchestra exemplifies the broad reach and national impact of its work. The musicians will bring fresh energy to epic masterworks, and perform cutting-edge new work from contemporary composers in the country’s most iconic concert venues and across schools and youth spaces nationwide.
NYO remains committed to offering young people – at different levels of musical ability - opportunities to accelerate as musicians. NYO identifies musicians who demonstrate passion and commitment not only for their music-making but also in championing the transformational power of orchestral music for their generation. In creating bespoke opportunities for musicians who show their potential as changemakers, NYO is adapting the talent pipeline, to create a new generation of musicians who are passionate about sharing orchestral music with other young people.
48% of the Orchestra of 2025, including NYO Associates, came through NYO Inspire, a free programme for young people who want music to be a bigger part of their lives but face barriers and lack of opportunity to progress. NYO Associates are identified during the audition process, as brilliant, driven musicians who would thrive from the opportunity to broaden their musical experience with the Orchestra.
NYO remains committed to fostering an inclusive and representative teenage community. 52% of Orchestra and NYO Associate musicians come from state schools and 35% are Black, Asian and ethnically diverse. The Orchestra is a powerful reflection of the diversity and potential of young people across the UK. For the 2025 season, 50% of leadership roles within the Orchestra are held by female musicians. In a historic achievement, half of the leadership positions in the Brass section are also now held by female musicians, marking a significant step toward gender parity in a traditionally male-dominated area.
