Nottingham Youth Orchestra is an orchestra based in Nottingham for young instrumentalists selected by audition. The orchestra was founded in 1985 by Stephen Fairlie and Derek Williams who is the orchestra's musical director to this day.
The orchestra has gained a reputation for a high level of performance in both the United Kingdom and internationally (on its annual tours). There are at least four major Youth Orchestra concerts in the Nottingham area each year, typically including venues such as the Royal Concert Hall, Southwell Minster and the Albert Hall, and the orchestra has toured places as far afield as the USA and Cyprus.
The orchestra has commissioned work by various composers and performed the world premieres of 'Mosaic' by Nick Sackman at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2002 and 'The Death of Stalin' by Robert Steadman in March 2003 at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall. It has also premiered a Jazz Violin Concerto by John Dankworth.
At the Music for Youth National festival at the Royal Festival Hall in London in July 2003, the orchestra was highly commended for its performance.
The Nottingham Youth Jazz Orchedstra (Notts NYJO) was formed in Spring 2008 to provide opportunities for youth players to practice and perform jazz both in smaller (combo) and Big Band settings. It features distinctive unique arrangements. Its patron is the internationally regarded Tony Kofi, a jazz saxophonist and band leader who hails from Nottingham. Notts NYJO has been on tour with the NYO to Italy. It performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2010 and at the Newark Jazz Festival in the same year. Phil Smith is the Musical Director.
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