New partnership aims to create bright future for young orchestral musicians in Wales
A renewed partnership has been announced between BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) and National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) to provide orchestral and choral opportunities and professional career pathways for young people throughout Wales.
The initiative was announced during a joint “side by side” concert by the two orchestras at the BBC’s Hoddinott Hall in late November. Together, they have committed to empowering aspiring professional musicians across Wales by supporting performance skills and nurturing their professional growth through orchestral performance opportunities. They will also work in partnership with National Music Service Wales, supporting the National Plan for Music Education.
Young musicians at the start of their careers will benefit from a vibrant blend of developmental opportunities including side by side concerts with professional BBC musicians, choral singing performances, mentoring and workshop sessions, the commissioning of new music, and projects with musicians and composers that work outside the traditional classical music sector.
BBC NOW and NYAW have successfully worked together since 2001, running side by side concerts for young musicians who gain insights and experience by performing with professional players. These concerts have given generations of young musicians the confidence to pursue professional careers, and this new commitment seeks to create a dynamic platform for young people by offering them a unique chance to refine their craft and showcase their talents on a broader stage.
Founded in 2017, NYAW seeks to develop creative pathways for young people across Wales. It unites and leads the development of Wales’s five prestigious and long-established national youth ensembles comprising the National Youth Brass Band of Wales, National Youth Choir of Wales, National Youth Dance Wales, the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and National Youth Theatre of Wales. Founded in 1945, the National Youth Orchestra of Wales was the world’s first ever youth orchestra, and has been performing regularly ever since.
Evan Dawson, Chief Executive of NYAW said: “This partnership with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales will be of huge benefit to the young musicians of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. As well as performing fantastic music of the very highest quality, they will get to work intensively to a professional schedule and learn directly from the BBC musicians with whom they are placed. It will give them an insight into an orchestral world in which they might see their own futures, nurturing our next generation of Welsh musicians. We all look forward to working with the wonderful team at BBC NOW over the years ahead to develop creative opportunities for young people throughout Wales.”
Lisa Tregale, Director of BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales said: “At BBC NOW, we believe that music and music making is for everyone, so we positively welcome this opportunity to collaborate with NYAW even more closely to help inspire young musicians, singers and composers across Wales. Everyone at BBC NOW is looking forward to building on the work that we have done with NYAW over the years, and together we aim to develop even more creative, fun and inclusive schemes that will benefit young musicians everywhere.”
Mari Lloyd Pritchard, Co-ordinator of the National Music Service for Wales, said: “Working in partnership is at the heart of the National Music Service as we strive together to develop as many opportunities as possible for children and young people to develop their playing and access career pathways. We are delighted to see this new and exciting collaboration.”