The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS) has a vision where all the communities access world-class ensemble youth music and share in its social, personal, and cultural benefits.

NYOS projects aim to cater to students ages 8 to 25, through orchestras, training and outreach programmes. NYOS creates inspirational, world-class, adventurous and fun musical experiences, creating a sense of belonging in the community to be forward-thinking, accessible, inclusive, fair and diverse. NYOS is collaborative, where one can learn and innovate to develop music as skilled creators and as people too.

In addition to organising residential training courses, rehearsals and national and international concert tours, NYOS also provides music workshops in communities throughout Scotland.

The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland are a full member of the European UNION of National Youth Orchestras.^[1]

NYOS (The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland)

NYOS (The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland) is the flagship orchestra of NYOS. Founded in 1979, it is a symphony orchestra for musicians aged 25 and under. Following its two residential courses, the ensemble performs during spring and summer in a variety of venues and festivals as part of the Orchestra's annual national and international tours.

Auditions for entry to NYOS orchestras are held annually throughout Scotland, attracting over 300 applicants each year.

NYOS Development Orchestra

Replacing the former NYOS Junior and Senior Orchestras, NYOS Development is an orchestra is for musicians aged from 8 years of age and older and is the second stage on the classical pathway for aspiring members of NYOS (The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland). Annual membership of NYOS Development includes residential courses in both spring and summer, followed by the opportunity to experience the thrill of orchestral performance at top venues across Scotland.

NYOS Academy

Formerly NYOS Training Ensembles, the NYOS Academy sessions are designed for younger players (around the age of 8–14) to prepare them for entry into a NYOS orchestra. The sessions not only focus on learning repertoire, but also on essentials such as ensemble skills, listening, posture and musicianship along with advice on audition preparation.

NYOS Camerata

NYOS Camerata is the pre-professional chamber ensemble of NYOS. It comprises current senior and past members of NYOS. Projects include tutoring, delivering workshops, working within Scottish communities, learning about various genres and working with professional musicians. Membership of NYOS Camerata is by invitation only.

NYOS Engage

NYOS Engage is the community based outreach project that NYOS run in collaboration with Local Authority Instrumental Music Services. It launched in September 2023 and brings together 100+ young people from across the local authority area, where the young people have the opportunity to learn and perform as an orchestra, many of which experiencing this for the first time. NYOS Engage encourages young people to continue to develop within their instrument and progress onto the NYOS classical pathway. NYOS Engage is being piloted in East Lothian in 2023-24 and will move to another Local Authority in future academic years.

See also

• National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
• National Youth Orchestra of Wales
• Music Schools in Scotland
• List of youth orchestras

References