Eight new National Youth Music Organisations

Arts Council England (ACE) and the Department for Education (DfE) have increased the number of National Youth Music Organisations (NYMO) from seven to fifteen.

The NYMO network provides opportunities for young people across the country to take part in making, performing and enjoying music, through performances, music programmes, residencies, summer schools and workshop.

The full list of NYMO features brass bands, youth choirs, music ensembles and musical theatre. The new cohort includes the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, the National Youth Folk Ensemble and Sound and Music.

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Joining them are Awards for Young Musicians, which provides support to musicians from low-income families, Pagoda Arts, which teaches young people about Chinese music and culture, and UD, which supports young people to explore Black music and culture.

Open Up Music, which both help schools set up accessible orchestras for disabled young people, and Orchestras for All, which works with young people facing significant barriers, have also been given NYMO status.

All fifteen NYMO’s will receive funding as part of ACE’s 2023-26 Investment Programme. The DfE will also be contributing £524,410 annually towards the programme. 

NYMOs work collectively to share knowledge and advocate for music education. They also support the programmes of other National Portfolio Organisations, Music Education Hubs, conservatoires and colleges of music, as well as further and higher education bodies.

Minister of State for Schools Nick Gibb says expanding the number of NYMOs is part of the government’s National Plan for Music Education.

“This is an important step towards the ambition set out in the national plan, for all children and young people to have the opportunity to progress their musical interests and talents, including professionally,” he said.

“By more than doubling the number of NYMO we are bringing opportunities to learn an instrument, compose, and make music to even more children across the country,” ACE Chief Executive Darren Henley said.

“The organisations joining the programme will provide thousands more young people with the chance to experience the joys music can create, and to learn skills that will stay with them throughout their lives, whether that means making music for fun or pursuing a career as a professional musician.”