National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain
The National Youth Wind Orchestra consists of around 75 young musicians aged 14 to 21 from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Membership is by audition.
History and heritage
The National Youth Wind Orchestra was originally named The British Youth Wind Orchestra when founded by clarinettist Eric McGavin in 1968. Stephen Dodgson, Andrew McGavin, Robert Montgomery and Leonard Salzedo established it as a charity on 1 January 1986 and registered it with the Charity Commission on 28 February 1986.It was renamed the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain in 1986. Thousands of young wind, brass, and percussion players have passed through the orchestra, many of whom are now found in professional music-making around the world. Kit Shepherd directed the organisation from 1990 until 2013. In 2024 the organisation was renamed 'National Youth Wind Orchestra'. The current CEO and Artistic Director is Louisa Denby.
NYWO has conductor Simon Rattle as its patron.
Performances
The NYWO has performed at concert venues throughout the country and abroad including St John's, Smith Square, the Royal Albert Hall, Duke's Hall, Cadogan Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, Oxford Town Hall, the Zeughaus in Teufen, Ittingen Charterhouse and the Rudolfinum in Prague.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 and Classic FM.
Conductors
Conductors have included Dr Glenn D.Price, Dr Matthew George, Dr James Gourlay, Colin Touchin 1969–89, Harry Legge OBE, Peter Bassano, Tijmen Botma,, Dr Robert Childs.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.| Year | Work | Composer |
| 1972 | Introduction & Rondo | Gordon Jacob |
| 1974 | Work for clarinet choir | Edwin Roxburgh |
| 1974 | Wind Symphony | Stephen Dodgson |
| 1976 | Concerto for Wind Orchestra | David Morgan |
| Tonada Sefardita | Leonard Salzedo | |
| 1977 | Symphony 8 The Four Elements | Wilfred Josephs |
| Epigrams from a Garden | Stephen Dodgson | |
| 1979 | Processiones | Leonard Salzedo |
| 1980 | Scenes from an imaginary Ballet | Graham Williams |
| 1983 | Sinfonietta | Derek Bourgeois |
| 1984 | Ultramarine | John Hopkins |
| 1985 | East Coast Sketches | Nigel Hess |
| 1986 | Quiet | Gordon Crosse |
| 1987 | 1984 | Dominic Muldowney |
| 1988 | Concert Dances | Howard Blake |
| 1991 | Theatre Fountain | Gary Carpenter |
| 1992 | Sinfonietta no 2 | Philip Sparke |
| Symphony Our Hopes like Towering Falcons | Colin Touchin | |
| Bandwagon | Stephen Dodgson | |
| 1994 | Scenes from Breugel | Adam Gorb |
| 2008 | Gilded Theatre | Kenneth Hesketh |
Charitable trust
NYWO is a registered charity. Current trustees are Mr Paul Harris, Mr Andrew Somerville, Ms Catherine Millar, and Mr John Hutchins.This orchestra relies wholly on charitable donations, gifts and sponsorship.