The National Youth String Orchestra is one of the UK’s most prestigious training organisations for young string players up to the age of 21. In recent years, the ensemble have performed at Cambridge Summer Music Festival, Lake District Summer Music, Three Choirs Festival and Wiltshire Music Centre, as well as making regular appearances at Kings Place, London.

NYSO’s outstanding characteristic is the standard of coaching players receive from Music Director Damian Iorio and a dedicated team of professional musicians with a lifetime’s experience of playing in great chamber orchestras such as the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Founded in 1995 by Viviane Ronchetti, NYSO is fortunate to have had Sir Neville Marriner CH CBE as its principal patron for many years. Sir Neville conducted the orchestra on many occasions, including NYSO’s 10th and 15th anniversary concerts in 2005 and 2011 in London, and concerts in Capri and Ischia, Italy, at the invitation of the William Walton Trust at La Mortella.

Membership of NYSO is by audition and players take part in residential courses at Easter and summer, in venues around the UK.