History
Nottingham Youth Orchestra was founded in 1985 by Derek Williams and the late Stephen Fairlie, and in 2010 we are celebrate our 25th Anniversary. A registered charity, our aims are to promote the musical education and training of young local musicians in full time education. The orchestra has a reputation for its high standards of performance and has received praise and acclaim both in this country and on tours abroad.
The organisation now runs four groups; the main Nottingham Youth Orchestra, the NYiO or Intermediate Orchestra, which started in its present format in 1998 and is now under the direction of Stan Bounford and the NYtO or Training Orchestra, which started in 1999 and is under the direction of David Leeder. The NYjO or Nottingham Jazz Orchestra was launched at NYO's concert at the Royal Concert Hall on 1st March 2008 under the direction of Phil Smith.
Altogether there are now almost 300 players within the organisation representing some 50 schools in Nottinghamshire and beyond who meet each week for rehearsals during term time.
The main orchestra has gained a reputation for its high standard of performance, in this country and on tours abroad, and is now an established part of the Nottingham music scene giving at least four major concerts in the Nottingham area each year.
Highlights
1988 - Orchestra invited to play in the festival of British Youth Orchestras at Edinburgh International Festival.
1989 - To Normandy - the first Tour.
1993 - Performances at the De Montford Hall in Leicester, the Royal Festival Hall in London and at the Schools' Prom at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
1995 - 10th Anniversary and tour to Canada and America with live performance on television.
1997 - Summer Tour to Cyprus.
1998 - Summer Tour to Austria.
2000 - Orchestra took part in When You Wish Upon A Star concert at the RCH , in aid of children's charities.
2001 - As well as the normal programme, the orchestra was asked to play with Guy Johnston, winner of the 2000 Young Musician of the Year competition, as part of his rehearsal schedule prior to his appearance at the proms where he played Elgar's Cello Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
2001 - Tour to Tuscany.
2003 - NYO was the 'warm up' act at a big screen showing in Centre Parcs of 'Tosca' from Covent Garden. We played to a large audience before being let loose on the River Rapids! In July 2003 the orchestra played in the Music for Youth National festival at the Royal Festival Hall in London and was highly commended for its performance. The tour to Valencia, at the invitation of the Spanish organisers of the 16th Interrnational Festival of Youth Orchestras, was a great success and 
the orchestra received a standing ovation at their final concert in the magnificent Palau de la Musica. In September 2003, the orchestra took part in Masterprize, an international competition for young composers, preparing a new work for performance with members of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham. A number of players went to listen to the final of the competition at the Barbican in London which was broadcast live on Classic FM.
2004 - Memorable tour to Tuscany including a performance of Carmina Burana with a wonderful Italian choir to an absolutely packed audience in the church of San Giovanni in Lucca.
2008 - NYO gave the world premiere of John Dankworth's concerto for jazz quartet and orchestra played by the Chris Garrick Quartet. At the end of the concert, John Dankworth joined the orchestra and choir onstage for an unforgettable performance of 'The A Train'.
2009 - Tour to Vienna where we played a Mozart Sinfonia Concertante in the Orangerie at Schonbrunn Palace - this was where Mozart and Salieri had their famous competition where they both composed works based on a theme given them by the Emperor. We played at the same end of the room as Mozart (Salieri's end is now the bar!) again to a packed audience.
2010 -
Tour to Berlin. This was actually the location of the orchestra's first tour abroad in 1989, and we think it's particularly appropriate that we should return in our 25th anniversary season.
The orchestra stayed at Chateau du Baffy a lovely 18th centuary building set in extensive grounds in a small french village about 10 miles from Bayeux
Workshops
Over the last year NYO has been lucky enough to have workshops with a number of eminent musicians including John Miller, head of brass at the Royal Northern College and former 1st trumpet with the Philharmonia. Guy Johnston, cello, BBC Young Musician winner 2000, now well-known soloist and chamber musician. Roger Coull, violin, leader of the Coull Quartet which is in residence at Warwick University. Laura Jellicoe and Hugh McKenna (flute and oboe), teachers at the Royal Northern College and members of the Halle Orchestra.
As an independent orchestra and a registered charity NYO receives no local authority or state funding and depends on subscriptions and voluntary donations for its activities. As far as funds allow we will offer financial support to young musicians who would otherwise be unable to enjoy the facilities offered. For this we rely on individuals and corporate bodies for support.
