National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS) provides a complete orchestral experience for its students aged between 8 and 25, through its pathway of orchestras, jazz bands, training ensembles and outreach programmes.
In addition to organising residential training courses, intensive rehearsals and national and international concert tours, NYOS also provides musical experiences to Scotland’s young people through workshops in communities throughout Scotland.
Patrons
The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS) - HRH, The Earl of Wessex, KG GCVO ADC
NYOS Symphony Orchestra- Sir James MacMillan, CBE
NYOS Senior Orchestra - Colin Currie
NYOS Junior Orchestra Nicola Benedetti, MBE
NYOS Symphony Orchestra (The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland)
NYOS Symphony Orchestra (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 high profile 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 500 applicants each year. The musicians are of the highest caliber and many past students have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the musical profession. Alumni include Dame Evelyn Glennie, Colin Currie, Helen Grime and Rory Macdonald.
Senior Orchestra
NYOS Senior Orchestra is for musicians aged 13 and over, and the second stage on the classical pathway for aspiring members of NYOS Symphony Orchestra (The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland). Annual membership of NYOS Senior Orchestra includes residential courses in both spring and summer, followed by the opportunity to experience the thrill of orchestral performance at top venues across Scotland.
Junior Orchestra
NYOS Junior Orchestra is for ambitious young musicians aged 8 and over. This is also the first step of the pathway for aspiring members of NYOS Senior Orchestra and NYOS Symphony Orchestra (The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland). NYOS Junior Orchestra provides younger students with the opportunity to perform large-scale symphonic repertoire at top class venues. Annual membership of NYOS Junior Orchestra includes residential courses in both spring and summer, followed by the opportunity to perform at prestigious venues across Scotland.
NYOS Training Ensembles
NYOS Training Ensembles are designed for younger players (around the age of 8-14) to prepare them for entry into a NYOS orchestra. The training ensembles 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 showcase, pre-professional chamber ensemble of NYOS. Successfully bridging the gap between youth orchestra and professional ensemble, it comprises current senior and past members of NYOS Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble also provides students with invaluable professional development experience to equip them for a career in music. Projects include tutoring, delivering workshops, working within Scottish communities, learning about various genres and working with acclaimed professional musicians. Membership of NYOS Camerata is by invitation only.
NYOS Futures
NYOS Futures is the cutting-edge, cross-genre, contemporary ensemble of NYOS. Players are drawn from the Symphony and Jazz Orchestras and membership is by invitation only. This ensemble aims to introduce young musicians and audiences to new music. Some projects include compositions written especially for the ensemble and repertoire can include classical, jazz or cross-genre music.
NYOS Jazz Orchestra (National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland)
NYOS Jazz Orchestra (The National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland), also affectionately known as NYJOS, is Scotland's foremost youth jazz ensemble and performs throughout the UK at high profile jazz venues and festivals. Under the direction of Malcolm Edmonstone and Andrew Bain, NYOS Jazz aims to provide students with the opportunity to study and perform jazz at the highest possible level, with respected professional musicians from the UK and beyond.
NYOS Jazz Access
NYOS Jazz Access is a training ground for the next generation of top jazz musicians. The courses and performances give young instrumentalists and vocalists the opportunity to refine their improvisation and key solo and ensemble skills, as a step along the pathway to participation in the flagship Jazz Orchestra. They perform a wide range of big band repertoire including traditional jazz standards and more modern repertoire; through this they also learn the history and importance of jazz music.
NYOS Jazz Summer School
The summer school provides outstanding jazz tuition for instrumentalists and vocalists aged between 12 and 21 by a carefully selected team of renowned jazz musicians and educators from the UK and beyond.
The summer school represents a wide range of ability but a common enthusiasm for jazz. Students gain experience of playing in small combos and enjoy classes covering rhythm, harmony, listening, theory and much more. Each day of the summer school concludes with a jazz club where anyone can take the floor.
NYOS Jazz Collective
NYOS Jazz Collective is a small, flexible ensemble, comprising the most dynamic and talented musicians invited from the NYOS jazz flagship ensemble and sometimes from NYOS Camerata. They are musicians on the cusp of their career and play professional repertoire with improvisation at its core. The ensemble has performed music written by its members as well as appearing on concert tours and at jazz festivals with leading international soloists.
In addition, NYOS Jazz Collective has taken part in residencies as well as community outreach projects, and has made studio recordings. Membership of Jazz Collective is by invitation only.
See also
- National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
- National Youth Orchestra of Wales
- Music Schools in Scotland