NOYO Debut Concert
The National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) will be taking to the stage for their debut concert this Spring.
Join Young Barbican
Join NOYO
Applications are now live to join NOYO from September 2022.
Visit the NOYO website and check out the Applicant’s Information Pack for all the details and apply for an audition.
Alongside Members, NOYO takes on Trainees: young disabled people with musical potential it supports for up to three years to develop the musical and personal confidence needed to become Members.
Watch: National Open Youth Orchestra members perform 'The Umbrella'
Some of our current National Open Youth Orchestra musicians have joined us from the pilot South-West Open Youth Orchestra. Watch them play 'The Umbrella', composed for the orchestra by Liam Taylor-West. It won a British Composer Award in 2018.
Meet London NOYO Centre musicians
Ale
Clarion
What I like about being in NOYO: I am excited! I like being together, meeting everyone and playing music, learning new music and making new patterns on my Clarion.
More about me: I enjoy going to concerts, theatre, rugby and football. I love singing and listening to music. I was born in Rome and speak Italian – I like going back to Italy and to see my family in Scotland.
David
Classical Accordion
What I like about being in NOYO: I love creating music with people.
More about me: I love life, accordion, piano, organ, Bach’s baroque music, old hymns by Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts, folk and jazz tunes. I enjoy performing solo piano improvisations for Heart n Soul at the Barbican Hall and Royal Festival Hall, and love accompanying Royal Academy of Music Juniors at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club on piano, and the London Youth Folk Ensemble on ‘folk’ accordion at EFDSS and LSO St Luke’s. I also meditate on the Bible, row outdoors, exercise at gym bootcamps, help out as a volunteer at Snooker For Health & Friendship at YMCA, a disability multi-sports club. I go ‘train, tree & bird’ spotting and play with our English-speaking pet budgies who are on my YouTube account.
Francesca
Violin
What I like about being in NOYO: I enjoy being part of a unique orchestra and playing among other young people who share my love for music. We play a range of exciting and challenging music and are given opportunities to explore different musical approaches and techniques to the pieces we play. Everyone in NOYO is so kind and encouraging!
More about me: I also play piano, flute and sing and appreciate all genres of music. I really enjoy all other aspects of the performing arts as well. I have just started a music degree studying violin performance.
Georgina
French Horn
What I like about being in NOYO: This is the first orchestra I have ever fitted into. I normally feel like I don’t fit in but I do in NOYO.
More about me: I have just graduated with a degree in Music Performance from the University of Huddersfield. I am now at home working on our family farm. As well as music I enjoy cross-stitching, sewing and watching football (I support Lincoln City as my hometown team).
Holli
Harp, piano, timpani
What I like about being in NOYO: Playing works commissioned for us and playing music with friends.
More about me: I’ve been playing harp since I was 9 years old. My dream jobs would be playing in an orchestra pit and recording music in studios. My favourite composer is Prokofiev.
Leo
Percussion
What I like about being in NOYO: Helps me to be a great musician and nice to learn together with talented young musicians.
More about me: I have a huge knowledge of general sports (especially Rugby & Football). I am a volunteer ranger of South Downs National Park.
Oliver
Harmonica
What I like about being in NOYO: I’m filling gaps in my music knowledge and learning new music with interesting musicians.
More about me: Previous film work includes ‘Hometown’, ‘Forgotten Fortresses: Hidden Histories’, and ‘Blind Photography Experiment (Parts 1, 2 & 3)’. I am currently working on ‘The Visitor’, a Drake Music/PRS Foundation commission.
Oscar
Piano, Percussion
What I like about being in NOYO: I like the people there. I like playing with the orchestra.
More about me: I like jazz music, 60s music, rock and roll and 80s music. My favourite film is Mary Poppins Returns. I like hiking a lot.
Sponsors
The National Open Youth Orchestra is generously supported by Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Boshier Hinton Foundation and Founding Sponsor ABRSM.
The London NOYO Centre is kindly being supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) over 2020/21.
