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National Open Youth Orchestra

A group of young people in a orchestra, one boy is playing the trumpet and two girls in the background are playing the violin.

The National Open Youth Orchestra’s London NOYO Ensemble offers an inclusive, accessible environment for 11-25 year-old disabled and non-disabled musicians to develop their musical skills; be creative with music and have fun! It welcomes musicians on a wide range of acoustic and electronic instruments, including some not usually found in orchestras, such as the accordion, or the Clarion which some musicians play with head movement.

Each year, London NOYO Ensemble musicians can apply to audition for a national tour with the National Open Youth Orchestra.

The London NOYO Ensemble is run by Barbican and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, in partnership with the National Open Youth Orchestra.
 

 

£5 Young Barbican exhibition tickets

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Join the London NOYO Ensemble

Applications are now open for 11-25 year-old disabled and non-disabled musicians to join the London NOYO Ensemble. You don’t need to live here to apply - you just need to be able to make it for rehearsals approximately once a month. Visit noyo.org.uk/apply to read the 2024 Applicant's Information Pack and send your application before 24 March 2024.

Apply here

Meet London NOYO Centre musicians

Young man in wheelchair sits next to a screen, a clarion instrument.

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.

Smiling boy holding an accordion

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.

Young woman playing a violin

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.

Image of Jonah, wearing checked shirt and holding trombone

Jonah

Trombone

Me in three words: enthusiastic, upbeat, kind

What I like about being in NOYO: I love how friendly and enthusiastic everyone is and how interesting the music is! NOYO is inspiring. We are from all kinds of backgrounds and we work really positively together, as a big happy team. It’s a lot of fun!

More about me: I love lots of types of music and I also like to sing. When I’m not playing the trombone, I spend my time building websites, solving my friends’ and family’s tech problems and researching travel and transport (trains and planes). I also like exercising with friends at a local park, learning languages (especially German and Spanish), spending time with animals and baking cakes for friends.

Image of Sam in black top, shorts and cap, holding a trumpet

Sam

Trumpet

Me in three words: fun, kind, trumpeter

What I like about being in NOYO: I like making friends, playing different varieties of music and learning new skills.

More about me: I like to construct Lego, I have a puppy called Daisy and I like life!

Ethan playing a viola

Ethan

Viola

What I like about being in NOYO: I have already made friends and the orchestra being inclusive particularly appeals to me. It is fantastic that young people are given a chance to take part despite their health challenges.

More about me: I also play the piano and am a violist for my local youth orchestra. I enjoy music and some of my favourites are The Planets, Holst, Danzón No. 2 and Sibelius No. 1. I like trains and am a big fan of the London Underground.

Jabari playing a piano

Jabari

Piano

What I like about being in NOYO: Playing with other musicians.

More about me: I enjoy creating digital art.

Oscar playing a tuned percussion instrument

Oscar

Tuned percussion & piano

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.

Yoel playing a piano

Yoel

Piano

What I like about being in NOYO: Learning to play in an orchestra.

More about me: I like to travel and learn languages. I love music, especially Tchaikovsky’s music. I love to make portraits.

Sponsors

The National Open Youth Orchestra is generously supported by Arts Council England, the Department for Education, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, John James Bristol Foundation, The Rayne Foundation, The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Chapman Charitable Trust, The Radcliffe Trust, Lightbulb Trust, and Founding Sponsor ABRSM.