National Youth Arts Wales caps its Summer 2026 Season on a High Note

This summer 355 young people from across Wales came together to train, create, rehearse and perform. Across 8 residencies, there were 19 performances and 2 public sharings, taking our young people from Bangor to St David’s, Swansea to Edinburgh, with almost 3,500 people attending our 9 summer concerts and a further 183 people coming to see new work-in-progress shared by National Youth Theatre of Wales. 

The National Youth Orchestra of Wales celebrated its 80th year with 101 young musicians performing at Prichard-Jones Hall, St Davids Cathedral and Brangwyn Hall, with the concerts also recorded for broadcast by BBC Radio 3. The National Youth Choir of Wales brought together 81 singers for performances at St Asaph Cathedral, St Davids Cathedral and Brangwyn Hall, while the National Youth Brass Band of Wales toured with 57 young musicians, performing in Bangor, St David’s and Newport. 

National Youth Dance Wales headed to the Edinburgh Fringe alongside National Youth Dance Scotland to form Celtic Collective, performing 9 sold-out shows and receiving five-star reviews. Back in Cardiff, 20 dancers began work with choreographer Osian Meilir on a new piece which will be performed this autumn. We also welcomed 16 boys aged 8-16 to our Boys Dance Day 2026 in partnership with Ballet Cymru and National Dance Company Wales.

For the National Youth Theatre of Wales, this summer marked the beginning of its 50th year, with 24 young actors working in Aberystwyth with director Hannah Noone and writer Bethan Marlow to devise brand new work. New scenes and songs were shared at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama as the first stage of work which is now being developed towards a new production in 2027. Alongside this, 24 participants took part in our Professional Pathways programme, exploring different aspects of theatre, screen and backstage work. The 50th anniversary has also given us the opportunity to reconnect with those who have been part of NYTW over the past 5 decades, with alumni already reconnecting with us and sharing photographs, programmes, archive material and memories. 

We rounded off the summer with the second National Youth Jazz Wales summer school, bringing together 45 young musicians from across Wales to work with some of the country’s leading jazz musicians at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, with more than 100 people attending the final sharing. 

As part of the summer programme we also launched Play Your Part, our public giving campaign inviting audiences, families, alumni and supporters to help make sure that financial circumstances are not a barrier to young people taking part in National Youth Arts Wales opportunities. The support we receive through this campaign is vital to helping us continue to offer these opportunities in the future. If you have already supported the campaign, thank you. If you haven’t yet, you can still Play Your Part by making a donation and helping us reach more young people across Wales. 

The scale of the summer is important, but what stays with us most is the young people themselves - their commitment, creativity and the way they have supported each other. Across the summer they have made new friendships, gained confidence, worked with professional artists and tutors and experienced what it means to be part of a creative community. 

There is already plenty more to come, with new productions, performances and creative opportunities taking shape over the coming months. Auditions for next year’s National Youth Arts Wales music ensembles are now open - closing 11 October - and we look forward to welcoming the next group of young people and seeing where their creativity takes them. 

Thank you to all our funders, partners, tutors, professional artists, staff and welfare teams who have helped make this summer possible and to the audiences, families, alumni and supporters who have been part of it. We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved summer 2026 and look forward to what’s coming up next. 

[Photos by Evan Dawson, Kirsten McTernan, Ken Grant and Y-Dance]

National Youth Arts Wales Members Celebrate Success at Eisteddfod yr Urdd Ynys Môn 2026

National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) is delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our members at Eisteddfod yr Urdd Ynys Môn 2026. Across music and drama performance competitions, our members secured an impressive number of first, second and third-place awards, demonstrating the exceptional skill, creativity and dedication of young musicians and performers from across Wales.  

Congratulations to all members who competed and represented their communities with distinction! 
 

Eisteddfod yr Urdd Ynys Môn 2026 winners - NYAW members: 
 

National Youth Brass Band of Wales members  

• Brass Solo – Under 19s: 1st - Gruffydd Siôn, 2nd - Iestyn Seiriol, and 3rd - Meilir Tudur Davies  

• Guitar Solo - Yrs.10 and under 19 years old: 1st - Meilir Tudur Davies 

• Percussion Solo - Yrs.10 and under 19 years old: 2nd – Catrin-Alaw Gwilliam  
   

National Youth Choir of Wales members 

• Sir Bryn Terfel Award - Solo, 19-25 year olds: 2nd - Leisa Mair Lloyd-Edwards 

• S/A - Yrs.10 and under 19 years old: 1st – Mared Eos Phillips, 2nd - Celyn Richards, and 3rd - Beca Hogg 

• Folk Song Solo - Yrs.10 and under 19 years old: 2nd - Celyn Richards 

• Cerdd Dant Solo - Yrs.10 and under 19 years old: 1st – Gwenno Beech, 2nd - Celyn Richards, and 3rd - Ela Mablen Griffith-Jones 

• Individual Recitation - Yrs.10 and under 19 years old: 1st - Gwenno Beech 

• Performance of a Musical Song Yrs.10 and under 19 years old: 2nd - Mared Eos Phillips 
   

Heledd Wyn Newton. Photo: Kirsten McTernan

National Youth Orchestra of Wales members

• Main Composer: 1st - Heledd Wyn Newton  

• Rakhi Singh Award - Instrumental, 19-25 year olds: 2nd - Carwyn Lloyd 

• Woodwind Solo Yrs.10 and under 19 years old: 1st – Owen Frohawk, and 3rd - Alys Lavery 

• String Solo (with the exception of guitar) - Yrs. 10 and under 19 years old: 1st - Tanwen Lloyd  

National Youth Theatre of Wales members

• The Drama Medal: Glain Llwyd

• Matthew Rhys Award - monologue, 19-25 year olds: 1st - Jona Milone 

• Performance of a Musical Song 19-25 years old: 3rd - Miriam Llwyd Davies  
  
  

National Youth Arts Wales is incredibly proud of every member who took part in this year’s festival. Their success reflects not only their talent and commitment, but also the strength of youth arts provision across Wales. Congratulations! 

Your Sound of Summer! National Youth Arts Wales announces Summer 2026 Concert Tours

National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) is excited to announce the launch of its summer 2026 concert tours, with National Youth Orchestra of Wales (NYOW), National Youth Brass Band of Wales (NYBBW) and National Youth Choir of Wales (NYCW) taking to stage across Wales this July and August.   

NYOW celebrates an incredible milestone of 80 years as the world's oldest national youth orchestra in 2026, launching its Anniversary Tour in Bangor at the Prichard Jones Hall on 29 July. Leading the 100-piece orchestra for this celebratory year will be Andrew Gourlay. Hailed by The Guardian as "a star in the ascendent", Andrew has quickly established himself as an internationally recognised conductor with a dynamic, collaborative style. He has conducted extensively across the UK and Europe, is a regular guest at the BBC Proms and a passionate advocate for youth orchestras.  

Also kickstarting in North Wales, the NYCW launches its 2026 tour in St Asaph Cathedral on 19 August. Established in 1984, with its alumni including Sir Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins OBE, the choir will be conducted by another former member of the Choir, Tim Rhys-Evans MBE. One of the most celebrated figures in Welsh choral music, Tim has been at the forefront of choral singing in Wales for over 20 years. 2026 marks his eighth year conducting the choir which this year is made up of over 90 young singers. Under Tim's direction, audiences can expect a vibrant mix of music - from brand-new pieces and choral favourites to a few surprises along the way. 

NYBBW will be led by Philip Harper as conductor of the Brass Band this summer. Philip, who last worked with the band in 2022, is one of the most influential conductors in the brass band world, having led The Cory Band to unprecedented success since taking the reins in 2012. Known for his high-energy rehearsals and inspiring leadership, we look forward to Philip bringing out the very best in our players in a varied programme that combines challenging competition works with entertaining concert pieces. Audiences can look forward to an evening of high-quality, energetic musicianship. The band – made up of 59 of the best young brass players in the country - finishes its 2026 tour at The Riverfront, Newport, on 23 August. 

Tickets for all three tours are on sale now. Book at nyaw.org.uk/whats-on‍ ‍and follow us on social media @nationalyouthartswales for the latest news and updates throughout the summer. 

Full concert tour dates:

National Youth Orchestra of Wales

29/07 - 7:30pm, Prichard Jones Hall, Bangor 

31/07 - 7pm, St Davids Cathedral, St Davids 

01/08 - 3pm, Brangwyn Hall, Swansea 

National Youth Choir of Wales
2026 Season Sponsor: Lux Family Law

19/08 - 7:30pm, St Asaph Cathedral, St Asaph 

20/08 - 7:30pm, St Davids Cathedral, St Davids 

21/08 - 7pm, Brangwyn Hall, Swansea 

National Youth Brass Band of Wales

21/08 - 7:30pm, Prichard Jones Hall, Bangor 

22/08 - 7:30pm, St Davids Cathedral, St Davids 

23/08 - 2pm, The Riverfront, Newport 

Meet the 2026 NYAW Conductors

NYAW 2026 Conductors: Philip Harper (left), Tim Rhys-Evans (centre), Andrew Gourlay (right)

National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) is excited to announce the conductors who’ll be leading the National Youth Arts Wales music ensembles this summer! 

With auditions completed and the 2026 membership confirmed, the stage is now set for another exciting Summer of Music featuring some of the best young musicians from across Wales. 

The National Youth Brass Band of Wales (NYBBW) is delighted to welcome back Philip Harper as its conductor this summer. Philip, who last worked with the Band in 2022, is one of the most influential conductors in the brass band world having led The Cory Band to unprecedented success since taking the reins in 2012. Known for high-energy rehearsals and inspiring leadership, Philip knows how to get the best out of the Band’s members and is planning a varied programme that combines challenging competition works with entertaining concert pieces.  

National Youth Choir of Wales (NYCW) Alumnus, Tim Rhys-Evans MBE, returns to conduct his former choir this summer in a collaboration that has seen the Choir develop and grow tremendously throughout his 8 years at the helm. Tim has been at the forefront of choral singing in Wales for over 20 years and is passionate about supporting young singers – demonstrated through his work as founder of the Aloud Charity and Only Boys and Only Kids Aloud. A former professional singer himself, Tim combines fantastic musicianship with an extensive knowledge of vocal technique which has led to him becoming renowned for creating powerful, supportive spaces where young singers can grow in confidence and skill. 

The members of the NYCW always provide high quality, energetic performances of both traditional and more contemporary choral works and this summer is sure to be no different under Tim’s leadership. 

In 2026, the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (NYOW) is excited to welcome Andrew Gourlay to conduct the Orchestra in a landmark year as we celebrate its 80th anniversary. 

Hailed by The Guardian as “a start in the ascendent”, Andrew has quickly established himself as an internationally recognised conductor with a dynamic, collaborative style. He has conducted extensively across the world including many of the UK and Europe’s leading Orchestras and is a regular conductor at the BBC Proms. Andrew is a passionate advocate for youth orchestras and has conducted the National Youth Orchestras of Australia, Columbia and Ireland as well as NYOGB.  

National Youth Arts Wales is really looking forward to him leading the NYOW in such a significant year and, as a former professional trombonist, you can rest assured that he has programmed a fantastic (brass heavy) programme that both our members and audiences will thoroughly enjoy this summer! 

Sign up to NYAW’s newsletter to be notified when our summer concerts go on sale. 

Congratulations 2025 Orchestra and Brass Band Prize Winners

Each year on our residencies, we celebrate our musicians who display the most promise and dedication. The recipients of each award is decided by the sectional tutors during the residencies.

National Youth Arts Wales would like to express its gratitude to those who have donated money for the creation of these awards.

National Youth Brass Band of Wales

• The John Childs Memorial Trophy

Awarded to the most promising player at this year’s residency

Carys Wood

• The David Mabey Prize

Awarded to the most improved player on the residency

Isla Hawkins

• The Principal Cornet Trophy

In Memory of Tony Small

Stephanie Jonas

National Youth Orchestra of Wales

• The Haydn Davies Award

Awarded to the most promising player still in education

Noah Harcourt-Smith

• The Irwyn Walters (Friends of NYOW) Awards

Awarded to the two most promising string players at this year’s residency

Tristan Xuan and Jemima Soper

• The Wil Jones Prize

Awarded to the most promising woodwind player at this year’s residency

Sam Finch

• The Goronwy Evans Award

Awarded to the most promising brass player at this year’s residency

Tom Evans

• The Tony Moore Harp Prize

Awarded to the most promising harpist at this year’s residency

Heledd Wynn-Newton

• The Tony Moore Percussion Prize

Awarded to the most promising percussionist at this year’s residency

Carys Underwood

• The Welfare Team Prize

For overall contribution to the Orchestra

Gwydion Rhys

Photo by Kirsten McTernan

Your Stage Awaits! NYAW 2026 Music Auditions Now Open

Auditions are officially open for the 2026 National Youth Brass Band, Choir, and Orchestra of Wales. Apply now for your chance to perform alongside Wales’ finest young musicians! 
 
What can you expect as a NYAW member? 

• Receive expert training from top musicians 

• Perform in fantastic venues across Wales 

• Work with internationally renowned conductors 

• Make Wales proud by representing your country 

• Make life-long friends and lasting memories! 
   

Your Stage Awaits! What are you waiting for?

 Audition Deadline: 12 October 2025 

For more information, visit our website or follow us on social media @nationalyouthartswales for updates. 

Photo by James O’Driscoll (2025)