National Open Youth Orchestra

National Open Youth Orchestra We are the world's first disabled-led national youth orchestra “We’re diverse. Leo

Certainly in terms of inclusivity - not just in terms of disability but also, we've got an incredible range of musical backgrounds." Oliver, harmonica

“I think NOYO is a pioneering orchestra, but I don't think it should be. So I think it does describe it at the moment, but hopefully it won't do in a long term.” Lizzie, violin

“I think creative is probably one of the really good words to describe

NOYO. We can experiment more whereas normally it’s just like, play the thing and make sure it's not wrong. Lots of the music we play, you wouldn't really get that in a stereotypical classical music concert. It brings a different kind of element of programming.” Holli, harpist

“I like the word influential because I hope we can maybe help other people, other groups to become more inclusive.”, Georgina, French horn

“We respect each other to be happy and work together to be supportive, to make it much more fun.”.

Still not over it! Relive NOYO and BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the proms with these wonderful pictures. 📸Love the...
28/08/2026

Still not over it! Relive NOYO and BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the proms with these wonderful pictures. 📸

Love the photos? Now listen to our performance. We start at 1 hour 27 minutes ⤵️
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002zsp5

A huge thank you once again to our partners, funders, music leaders, and everyone who made this happen.

Conductor Alice Farnham.
Narrator Niamh Moriarty
Music by Charlotte Harding, Michael Betteridge and Oliver Cross.
Clarion soloist Alessandro Vazzana.

NOYO is delivered in partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Bristol Beacon, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, MAC Makes Music, Services For Education, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru and BBC National Orchestra of Wales with B:Music and Barbican Centre as national partners.



Photos: Jessie Myers | Soul Media

17/08/2026

Can't believe it's been a week since NOYO played the BBC Proms! Don't forget, you can hear our Proms debut with BBC National Orchestra of Wales in full on BBC Sounds (hear NOYO at 1:27) ⤵️
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002zsp5

So much goes into a NOYO performance that the audience doesn't see - here's Holli (harp) with a behind scenes video from our schools concert at the Barbican.

Thanks once again to our Proms partners Bristol Beacon, BBC and BBC NOW. 🥰

Our concerts were conducted by Alice Farnham, with music by Oliver Cross, Michael Betteridge, Charlotte Harding, and narration by Niamh Moriarty.

Video description: NOYO musician Holli shows behind the scenes of getting ready for and playing NOYO's schools concert at the Barbican. It includes getting her outfit ready, listening to Bad Bunny in the car on the way to the concert, getting her harp on stage, tuning her harp, testing her microphone, hanging out with NOYO musicians Shoshana and Una, and packing her harp away.



NOYO is delivered in partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Bristol Beacon, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Midlands Arts Centre - MAC, Services For Education, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru and BBC National Orchestra of Wales with B:Music and Barbican Centre as national partners.

If you missed our concerts this summer, don't worry! You can now listen to NOYO and BBC NOW performing at the Proms at B...
14/08/2026

If you missed our concerts this summer, don't worry! You can now listen to NOYO and BBC NOW performing at the Proms at Bristol Beacon on BBC Sounds ⤵️
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002zsp5

Skip ahead to 1:27 for our performance. 🙌

A huge thank you to all our Music Leaders, partners, and funders past and present who made this incredible moment possible - and a massive round of applause for our brilliant musicians!

NOYO is delivered in partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Bristol Beacon, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, MAC Makes Music, Services For Education, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru and BBC National Orchestra of Wales with B:Music and Barbican Centre as national partners.

29/07/2026

and we're beyond proud to celebrate the musical journey of player Alessandro Vazzana who will make his debut as a Proms soloist on 9th August as part of a Relaxed Prom at Bristol Beacon. He plays with head movement using a Quha Zono head mouse. Evie Read, another star performer will play the Clarion with her hand. Come watch them, try the Clarion for yourself before concerts or download it for free on your iPad and Windows devices. More info at theclarion.uk and noyo.org.uk.

17/07/2026

Don't miss a concert that's had audiences dancing and chanting from their seats! 30th July, 3pm - one day only. Join us for a more relaxed way to experience classical music, with NOYO and BBC National Orchestra of Wales in Cardiff, with narration by Niamh Moriarty.

Be amazed by soloist Alessandro Vazzana, who plays the Clarion with head movement, be part of our orchestra through exciting audience participation, and learn all about all the sections from our friendly musicians.

Expect fresh versions of Vivaldi's Seasons, as well as pieces specially composed for the orchestra, like Charlotte Harding's The Orchestra: A Young Person's Guide, co-commissioned by the BBC.

We can't wait to see you there.

Tickets for this Relaxed Concert, and access information ⤵️
https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2026/national-open-youth-orchestra-with-bbc-national-orchestra-of-wales



Video description: Footage from NOYO and BBC NOW's concert at the Barbican with quotes from the audience overlaid.

NOYO is delivered in partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Bristol Beacon, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Midlands Arts Centre - MAC, Services For Education, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru and BBC National Orchestra of Wales with B:Music and Barbican Centre as national partners.

10/07/2026

Happy Disability Pride Month 🫶

Instrument adaptations can make traditional instruments more accessible, so more disabled musicians can play music in ensembles. Here's Cass answering more of your questions about his instrument adaptations.

Come watch Cass and the National Open Youth Orchestra on their tour, with guest musicians from BBC National Orchestra of Wales. There's audience interaction, so be prepared to be a guest member of the orchestra! Get your tickets for Cardiff (30 July) and Bristol (BBC Prom on 9 August):

Cardiff tickets: https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2026/national-open-youth-orchestra-with-bbc-national-orchestra-of-wales
Bristol tickets (BBC Prom): https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/bbc-proms-2026-relaxed-prom/

1,000 school children dancing with us from their seats, and becoming part of our orchestra... We're still buzzing from t...
03/07/2026

1,000 school children dancing with us from their seats, and becoming part of our orchestra... We're still buzzing from the opening concert of our tour at the Barbican. So much joy and energy in the room!

Thank you so much to our incredible audience, our guest musicians from BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Clarion soloist Alessandro Vazzana, conductor Alice Farnham, and narrator Niamh Moriarty.

It was the glorious premiere of Charlotte Harding's 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢: 𝘈 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦, arranged by Liam Taylor-West, with beautiful screen animations from Keaton Henson. Everyone was punching the air, chanting . Join in as we play this fabulous new BBC co-commission next in Cardiff and Bristol!

Cardiff tickets: https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2026/national-open-youth-orchestra-with-bbc-national-orchestra-of-wales
Bristol tickets (BBC Prom): https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/bbc-proms-2026-relaxed-prom/



NOYO is delivered in partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Bristol Beacon, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, MAC Makes Music, Services For Education, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru and BBC National Orchestra of Wales with B:Music and Barbican Centre as national partners.

25/06/2026

Meet Niamh Moriarty who will be joining us as the narrator of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢: 𝘈 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 for our concerts in London, Cardiff and Bristol this summer!

You might have seen her acting in the BBC's show Best Interests alongside Michael Sheen and Sharon Horgan.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢: 𝘈 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 is a brand new co-commission with the BBC, composed by Charlotte Harding.

Don't miss out! Get your tickets to see Niamh, NOYO and BBC NOW. 🎟️ London tickets are no longer available 😊

Cardiff: https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2026/national-open-youth-orchestra-with-bbc-national-orchestra-of-wales
Bristol: https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/bbc-proms-2026-relaxed-prom/



NOYO is delivered in partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Bristol Beacon, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, MAC Makes Music, Services For Education, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru and BBC National Orchestra of Wales with B:Music and Barbican Centre as national partners.

19/06/2026

Which would you rather have? 🤔 Let us know in the comments!

Come see more of Holli, Pea, Lenny and Anna, and other NOYO and BBC NOW musicians at our Bristol and Cardiff concerts.

Cardiff: https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2026/national-open-youth-orchestra-with-bbc-national-orchestra-of-wales
Bristol: https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/bbc-proms-2026-relaxed-prom/

Our concerts are relaxed, accessible, and BSL interpreted.



Video description: Two members of the National Open Youth Orchestra talk to two members of BBC NOW on a stage. They are sat on red chairs and there is a black curtain behind them.

NOYO is delivered in partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Bristol Beacon, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, MAC Makes Music, Services For Education, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru and BBC National Orchestra of Wales with B:Music and Barbican Centre as national partners.

16/06/2026

Do you want to have a good time? Then come see NOYO's relaxed concert with members of BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW)!

Listen to Holli (harp) and Pea (cor Anglais), and BBC NOW musicians Lenny (bass clarinet) and Anna (violin) tell you what to expect:

- Experience new instruments that you've never heard before
- Discover what the Clarion accessible instrument is
- Enjoy a massive variety of repertoire, including new co-commission with the BBC, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢: 𝘈 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦, composed by Charlotte Harding.

Get your tickets to our concert in Cardiff on 30 July⤵️
https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2026/national-open-youth-orchestra-with-bbc-national-orchestra-of-wales



NOYO is delivered in partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Bristol Beacon, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, MAC Makes Music, Services For Education, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru and BBC National Orchestra of Wales with B:Music and Barbican Centre as national partners.

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