Programme Overview

Programme notes

Join us for a special 40th Anniversary Celebration Evening Concert marking four decades of inspiring music-making from the Nottingham Youth Orchestra (NYO), featuring the Training Orchestra, Intermediate Orchestra, Senior Orchestra, and Jazz Orchestra in a showcase of the organisation’s musical journey. At the heart of the concert, the Senior Orchestra presents an ambitious programme including Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto in G minor performed by acclaimed violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason, alongside Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé Suite, highlighting the depth and artistry of NYO’s most advanced players. Braimah, from Nottingham’s renowned Kanneh-Mason family, is recognised for his expressive intensity and technical brilliance, bringing a strong local connection to this milestone event.

The Senior Orchestra is conducted by James Lowe, a former member of the Nottingham Youth Orchestra who has gone on to build an outstanding international career and is now Music Director of the Spokane Symphony. Known for his passionate performances and imaginative programming, he has worked with leading orchestras across the world and brings a powerful sense of shared history, local connection, and inspiration to this anniversary celebration.

The Training Orchestra features contemporary favourites including Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off and the James Bond theme Skyfall, while the Intermediate Orchestra presents a vibrant programme including Saint-Saëns’ dramatic Bacchanale, highlights from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, and Robert W. Smith’s cinematic Into the Storm, a selection designed to excite school audiences and showcase the energy and imagination of our developing musicians. The Jazz Orchestra brings a high-energy, feel-good vibe to the evening, performing in the bar as audiences arrive and later opening the second half with a bold, exciting polyphonic feature work that blends groove, rhythm, and style.

This concert will also feature a large screen relay, giving the audience a closer view of the performers on stage and enhancing the experience of orchestral detail, energy, and ensemble interaction. There will also be a special percussion-led feature within the concert, creating a striking and memorable highlight of collective rhythm and sound.

This is a concert for all ages and a welcoming introduction to orchestral and ensemble music for younger audience members. We warmly encourage young listeners to be inspired by what they hear and consider joining NYO in the future. With members joining from as young as Year 4, NYO offers a clear and exciting pathway for young musicians to grow and progress.

Each ticket also includes a FREE souvenir concert programme, provided on the night.

Together, this concert honours 40 years of Nottingham Youth Orchestra, celebrating its roots, achievements, and future.