The National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain (NYWO) consists of around 75 young musicians aged 14 to 21 from England, Scotland and Wales. Members are required to hold a minimum instrument Grade 8 at distinction level and are selected by auditions which take place annually in the autumn at various musical centres across the UK.

History, structure, and leadership

The National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain (NYWO) was originally named The British Youth Wind Orchestra when founded by clarinettist Eric McGavin in 1968.

Stephen Dodgson Stephen Cuthbert Vivian Dodgson (17 March 192413 April 2013) was a British composer and broadcaster. Dodgson's prolific musical output covered most genres, ranging from opera and large-scale orchestral music to chamber and instrumental music, as ...

(Chairman), Andrew McGavin, Robert Montgomery and

Leonard Salzedo Leonard Salzedo (24 September 1921 – 6 May 2000) was an English composer and conductor of Spanish descent. Salzedo was born in London. After some early lessons from William Lloyd Webber he went on to study composition under Herbert How ...

established it as a charity on 1 January 1986 and registered it with the

Charity Commission , type = Non-ministerial government department , seal = , seal_caption = , logo = Charity Commission for England and Wales logo.svg , logo_caption = , formed = , preceding1 = , ...

on 28 February 1986. Formed as the British Youth Wind Orchestra by Eric McGavin (Musical Director 1968–1970) and Harry Legge (Principal Conductor 1968–1989), it was renamed, National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain (NYWO) in 1986. Almost 5,000 young players have enjoyed music making in the orchestra, progressing to study at the UK's conservatoires and working in orchestras, ensembles and organisations music industry. NYWO's Vice Presidents are Andrew McGavin, Timothy Reynish and Prof. Jonathan Freeman-Attwood. Other Directors have included Kit Shepherd (1990 – 2013). NYWO has conductor

Simon Rattle Sir Simon Denis Rattle (born 19 January 1955) is a British-German conductor. He rose to international prominence during the 1980s and 1990s, while music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (1980–1998). Rattle was principal ...

as its patron.

Performances

The NYWO has performed at concert venues throughout the country and abroad including

St John's, Smith Square St John's Smith Square is a redundant church in the centre of Smith Square, Westminster, London. Sold to a charitable trust as a ruin following firebombing in the Second World War, it was restored as a concert hall. This Grade I listed ...

, the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

, Duke's Hall,

Cadogan Hall Cadogan Hall is a 950-seat capacity concert hall in Sloane Terrace in Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England. The resident music ensemble at Cadogan Hall is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), the first ...

Birmingham Town Hall Birmingham Town Hall is a concert hall and venue for popular assemblies opened in 1834 and situated in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. It is a Grade I listed building. The hall underwent a major renovation between 2002 and 2007. It no ...

Oxford Town Hall Oxford Town Hall is a public building in St Aldate's Street in central Oxford, England. It is both the seat of Oxford City Council and a venue for public meetings, entertainment and other events. It also includes the Museum of Oxford. Although ...

, the Zeughaus in Teufen, Ittingen Charterhouse (Switzerland) and the

Rudolfinum The Rudolfinum is a building in Prague, Czech Republic. It is designed in the neo-renaissance style and is situated on Jan Palach Square on the bank of the river Vltava. Since its opening in 1885, it has been associated with music and art. Curr ...

in Prague (Czech Republic). It performed at the Royal Albert Hall Promenade Concert 40 in the 2012 season and the BBC Proms Millennium Day in 2000 which was organised by Kit Shepherd in conjunction with the BBC. NYWO has also been recorded on

BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, Radio drama, drama, High culture, culture and the arts ...

and Classic FM.

Courses

During the Easter and summer school holidays, the main orchestra meets for residential courses lasting approximately 9 days each. Tuition is given by professional musicians under the direction of well known international conductors. Tutors have included Paul Harris,

Simon de Souza Simon de Souza (born c.1964) is a French horn teacher in the United Kingdom. He has been a tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire since 2004; and Wells Cathedral School since the 1990s. He also taught at the Purcell School and the junior depa ...

, Neil Crossley, Pete Harrison.

Conductors

Conductors include Glenn D.Price (Canada), Matthew George (America),

James Gourlay James Gourlay (born 1956) is a Scottish conductor and tubist. Biography Gourlay was born in Scotland and began to play in his local brass band at an early age. He took part in numerous solo competitions at that time and soon became Scottish ...

(Scotland),

Colin Touchin Colin Michael Touchin (3 April 1953 – 30 September 2022) was a British conductor, composer and music educator. His compositions include two oratorios, four orchestral sinfoniettas, and works for wind band and choral groups. Biography Colin To ...

(England) 1969–89, Harry Legge OBE (England), Peter Bassano (England),

Tijmen Botma Thijmen (sometimes translated as ''Thymen'' or ''Tymen''), sometimes written without the 'h', is a masculine given name of Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () D ...

(Netherlands), (Sweden), Dr. Robert Childs (Wales).

Composition

NYWO continues to commission new works whenever possible, inviting composers and soloists to work closely with members of the orchestra on new compositions. The orchestra were invited to perform Gavin Higgins's BBC Commission and world premiere, Der Aufstand, to much acclaim for the BBC Promenade Concert 40 in the 2012 season.

Charitable trust

NYWO is a registered charity no. 327024. Current trustees are Mr Paul Harris, Dr. Ursula Jones OBE, Dr. Robert Childs & Mr. Roger Minty. This orchestra relies wholly on charitable donations, gifts and sponsorship. Funding is an essential requirement for the orchestra to continue, particularly in assisting young musicians to attend the bi-annual courses and to ensure the continuity of high quality tutors. Charles Hine is an Education Trust and Council member

References

*NYWO Archives *National Youth Wind Orchestra Published Programmes

Sources

*NYWO Concert Programmes
Repertoire by country on timreynish.combedfordschool.org.ukYouTubesjss.org.ukbiography on timreynish.com4barsrest.com

External links

* {{authority control British youth orchestras