London NOYO Ensemble

Applications for the London NOYO Ensemble will be open from 14 February – 31 March 2025.

If you’re interested in joining the London NOYO Ensemble from September 2025, a great way to find out more is to join one of the Open Rehearsals in person or online. This is your chance to watch a rehearsal, meet some of the Music Leaders and musicians, and ask any questions you might have. Open Rehearsals are relaxed and will take place in Milton Court, which is an accessible venue.

The London NOYO Ensemble Open Rehearsals will take place:

• Saturday 1 March 2025, 1–2 pm (Zoom option also available)
• Sunday 30 March 2025, 1–2 pm

Please complete the registration form to come to one of the Open Rehearsals.

The London NOYO Ensemble rehearse at the following location:
 
Milton Court Building
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Milton Court
1 Milton Street
London
EC2Y 9BH

There are five regional NOYO Ensembles in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff and London. They provide an inclusive and accessible rehearsal environment for brilliant 11-25 year-old disabled, neurodivergent and non-disabled musicians to develop their skills at an advanced level, without the barriers that can make progress difficult for young disabled musicians.

NOYO Ensembles are run in partnership with leading arts organisations:

• Birmingham NOYO Ensemble – in partnership with Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), B:Music and Services For Education
   
• Bournemouth NOYO Ensemble - in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
   
• Bristol NOYO Ensemble - in partnership with Bristol Beacon
   
• Cardiff NOYO Ensemble - in partnership with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
   
• London NOYO Ensemble - in partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama

NOYO Ensembles are also the pathway to performing with the National Open Youth Orchestra. Once a year, NOYO Ensemble musicians can apply to audition for the National Open Youth Orchestra for the following year.

10 rehearsals 

NOYO Ensemble musicians should be available for 10 rehearsals each academic year (approximately once a month) with the ensemble that they have applied for. Musicians don’t have to live in the area where NOYO Ensembles rehearse to apply, as long as they can travel to attend monthly rehearsals and the end-of-year showcase.

Ensembles are located in the following venues: 

• Birmingham (Birmingham Symphony Hall, B1 2EA)
• Bournemouth (Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts, BH15 1DF)
• Bristol (Beacon Music Centre, BS10 5SJ)
• Cardiff (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, CF10 3ER
• London (Milton Court, EC2Y 9BH)

The exact dates of rehearsals will be confirmed by the end of June 2025.

20 one-to-one lessons

NOYO Ensemble musicians should also have 20 one-to-one lessons each academic year on their instrument. These should be arranged independently with a music teacher. If you do not have a private teacher, NOYO can help to arrange this for you.

Perform in a concert or showcase 

Each year, NOYO Ensemble musicians will perform in a concert or showcase local to their ensemble. Dates and venues will be confirmed at a later date.

If offered a place, students will be supported to develop their musical and ensemble skills in an inclusive environment that’s accessible in a variety of ways:

• Music is learned by ear, as well as through notation.
   
• Music Leaders are responsible for creating an inclusive environment and musicians’ access and social needs are captured from the outset. 
   
• Musical learning resources are produced in a variety of formats in addition to standard notation, including customised scores and audio recordings.
   
• Musicians are encouraged to share their views on interpretation, dynamics, phrasing and articulation during rehearsals. There is scope to try different tempos and even change the key. 
   
• Rehearsal schedules and music are shared two weeks in advance. 
   
• There is always a dedicated space for time-out whenever musicians need it.
   
• NOYO Ensembles facilitate social activities, with get-togethers during the year.
   
• All musicians have access to pastoral support, so their well-being and access needs are prioritised as much as their musical progression.

Entry is via application and if successful, applicants will be invited for audition. 

Applications for the London NOYO Ensemble will be open from 14 February – 31 March 2025.

As part of the application, you will be asked to submit a short film (1 to 2 minutes) of you playing your instrument or using assistive technology/an electronic communication aid. 

All NOYO Ensemble applicants need to demonstrate passion, potential and
perseverance as follows:

• A passion for music
• The potential to play a musical instrument with a high degree of control
  and expression, given appropriately accessible instruments, music and
  opportunities.
• A determination to persevere both musically and personally.

You don’t need to have passed any exams on your instrument to apply for a place in a NOYO Ensemble.

The word ‘audition’ can sound quite formal and intimidating, but that’s not what NOYO Ensemble auditions are like! It’s just an opportunity for the team to meet musicians, to play some music together and to have a chat. Auditions are relaxed, with the option of going to candidates’ homes if necessary. 

All auditions are filmed so they can be viewed again by everyone on the audition panel.

Auditions will take place in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff and London in April – May 2025.

In some exceptional cases it may be necessary to arrange auditions where the NOYO team will travel to visit individual young people. If you think this may be necessary and would like to discuss options, please contact Demi Delaperelle demi@openupmusic.org.

Whenever possible auditionees will be informed of the decision within two weeks of the audition.

Participation is free except for one-to-one music lessons. Open Up Music, the charity behind NOYO Ensembles and the National Open Youth Orchestra, works hard to fundraise for these costs, as do all NOYO partner organisations. Musicians are expected to pay for their one-to-one music lessons and to cover the cost of travel to lessons, rehearsals and other events where possible. If you require financial support to participate in a NOYO Ensemble, please contact info@openupmusic.org.

The National Open Youth Orchestra changes every year, with approximately twenty 11-25 year-old disabled, neurodivergent and non-disabled musicians coming together to present a broad programme of contemporary classical music. All come through the ranks of the NOYO Ensembles run in London, Bristol, Bournemouth, Birmingham and Cardiff in partnership with leading arts organisations.

There are internal auditions every January to decide which musicians tour as the National Open Youth Orchestra in the following year. Selection takes into account musicians’ playing, their commitment to touring, and the orchestra’s artistic programme.

National musicians take part in a residential which usually takes place during the Easter holidays over five days, to prepare for performances.