National Youth Orchestra Wales hit the road for a Summer of Music

NYOW 2024

The National Youth Orchestra of Wales (NYOW) residency in University of South Wales, Lampeter, is well underway with over 100 young musicians from across Wales working extremely hard to rehearse an energetic all-American concert programme before hitting the road this week.  

Led by internationally acclaimed conductor Kwamé Ryan, the programme will feature Bernstein's brilliant Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture. 

The NYOW summer concert tour begins with a Dress Rehearsal on July 30th, at the Arts Hall, USW, in Lampeter, before they travel to the iconic St Davids Cathedral the next day for a performance at Fishguard Festival of Music.  

On the 1st of August, they’ll make their way to Hereford Cathedral for Three Choirs Festival, followed by a stint up North to Denbighshire's gothic St Asaph Cathedral, before making their way back down South for a finale concert at the prestigious Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, on Sunday 3rd August.  

National Youth Orchestra of Wales marks its 80th anniversary next year. Established in 1945, with its first performance in 1946, the Orchestra has the distinction of being the first national youth orchestra in the world.  

As with each NYAW ensemble, the Orchestra develops a first-class training experience into performances that are full of passion and works with esteemed, professional musicians to help deliver excellence. 

The performance is not to be missed – book tickets today!  
 

NYOW 2025 Repertoire:  
Mason Bates - Attack Decay Sustain Release - 5’  
Samuel Barber - Second Essay for Orchestra - 10’  
Gershwin - Porgy & Bess, Symphonic Picture - 24’  
Bernstein - Symphonic Dances, West Side Story - 23’  
Wang Jie - America the Beautiful - 6’   
 

For further information on the concerts and to book tickets, visit: nyaw.org.uk/whats-on 

NYAW Journey – From Choir Member to Trainee Producer

Almost 10 years ago, I was gearing up to attend my first National Youth Training Choir of Wales residential course in Monmouth. It was my first residential experience, and I was really nervous. So nervous that I almost didn’t go.  

Now 10 years later, 7 residentials under my belt, and better control of my nerves, I can proudly say that I am Trainee Producer for the National Youth Theatre of Wales. 

My first few years in the Training Choir were integral to the development of my skills as a chorister and a musician, and it was here that I learnt how different choral singing was to being a soloist. Suddenly, singing the loudest or highest wasn’t seen as ‘impressive’, and after a few rehearsals I learnt the meaning of a mysterious word – blending. This new skill would see me through countless choirs over the years and allow me to truly appreciate the music I was making with others. I found that this also had a positive effect whilst working with collaborative pianists, creating much more balance and companionship within performances.  

This residency was also the first time I had been away from home for a week, which came with its own challenges and lessons in responsibility. I would love to be able to say that I was sensible enough to get enough sleep each night, but the novelty of sharing a dorm with 4 others was far too exciting! In hindsight, I would recommend getting enough sleep as possible… 

Graduating to the National Youth Choir of Wales was a big step. I was still young, just 16, but I felt that I was being treated as a professional. Not only were the days longer and the music harder, but the expectations as young adults to be punctual and disciplined were heightened. However, along with this came a bigger sense of community and belonging. Working day in and day out to shape together a varied programme of styles and languages quickly became a privilege and helped create unbreakable bonds that have developed into life-long friendships and connections across the country. Now wherever I go, I will always see a familiar friendly face at every work project or event, which shows that NYAW really does produce and nurture the future talent of Wales! 

Megan Jones

During my time as a Choir member, I was fortunate to have worked with some incredible conductors – including Carlo Rizzi, Tim Rhys-Evans, and Nia Llewellyn Jones who was hugely inspirational to me, stepping into a role that I had typically seen occupied by men. Each have taught me things that have positively impacted the way I perform, but more importantly the way I think about music. Understanding text is now my priority with a new piece, regardless of language. Interestingly, English is often the hardest to decipher and needs the same amount of dedicated time and detail as any other language! 

Conductor Tim Rhys-Evans, who has been conducting the choir since my first year (and still going!) was a huge influence in my exploration of music as a career. I had never considered applying for conservatoires until he convinced me to give it a go at my 2019 NYCW Audition. I’ll forever be grateful to Tim for introducing me to the possibility of a career in the arts and opening the door to study a degree in Bachelor of Music in Vocal Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. 

“I feel immensely grateful to NYAW for providing me with these opportunities to grow and succeed”

The Choir also led me to take part in some amazing opportunities, such as performing numerous commissions, including Brian Hughe’s ‘Sorrows of the Somme’ written to commemorate the Welsh soldiers killed in the battle for Mametz Wood. Another favourite was performing at Principality Stadium to open a Wales v England Rugby match, where we won! Perhaps the Welsh team needs the support of the NYCW again?  

However, the highlight of my time in the Choir was the collaboration between the Choir and Orchestra back in 2018. We performed Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms in some incredible venues across Wales, including Hereford Cathedral, St David’s Cathedral and St David’s Hall, and still is the grandest piece of work I’ve ever had the pleasure of working on. It was also my first experience singing with an orchestra, which although deafening, was unlike anything I had ever experienced before! It gave me the chance to gain a new skill and prepared me to begin the more daunting task of solo work. 

When I left the Choir in 2023, it was hard to deal with the fact that I had lost something that had been a part for me for years. I was so lucky that the following summer I was invited back to perform in the 40th anniversary concert as part of the Alumni Choir – performing alongside friends, tutors, staff and a whole host of incredible individuals who have been impacted by the NYCW. 

In the same year, I also had the pleasure to volunteer and become course assistant for the Assemble project, yet another new experience for me to gain skills and explore a different career path in the arts. This project was a key stepping stone in gaining experience and confidence in my skills and ultimately gave me the final push I needed to apply for the Trainee Producer role. 

In my short time of being in the role, I’ve already experienced and learnt so much about the work that goes into producing the residencies, and my past experiences as a member have been invaluable to making decisions and reflecting on what changes I wanted to see as a member. In terms of skills, my confidence in my Welsh Language skills have improved significantly through the bi-lingual ethos of NYAW, as well as the notable improvement in my IT skills through the nature of my role. I’ve already experienced the joy of the 2025 audition tour, and I am counting down the days until I get to experience the residency from a Producer’s perspective. 

Reflecting on the last 10 years, I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved, and I feel immensely grateful to NYAW for providing me with these opportunities to grow and succeed. It’s clear that the remarkable opportunities and experiences I have been offered have led me to the role of Trainee Producer and they will help me continue in my professional development for years to come  

Here’s to the next 10 years, wherever they take me! 

Blog written by Megan Jones, NYAW Trainee Theatre Producer

Wales Dance Review – Response from National Youth Arts Wales

The Night is Darkest Just Before The Dawn 2024 production | National Youth Dance Wales | Choreographer: Yukiko Masui ©Sian Trenberth Photography

At National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW), we welcome this Wales Dance Review and recognise its vital importance in shaping the future of dance in Wales. We fully support its 11 Recommendations and are committed to working collaboratively with Arts Council Wales and other arts organisations throughout Wales to help make these recommendations a reality.

National Youth Dance Wales (NYDW) supports young people in every Welsh local authority to access dance, and our bursary scheme helps ensure that household income should never be a barrier for talented young dancers. Therefore, we particularly welcome the recommendation regarding training.

At a time of great difficulty for the dance community in Wales, this report and consequent funding boost from ACW are a huge opportunity to inject new energy into the dance sector. At National Youth Arts Wales, we will ensure that the interests of young people form part of the ongoing conversation.

In response to a question raised about us in the report, we are pleased to confirm that we actively recruit both dancers in professional training and those who are not, with a strong focus on identifying and developing young Wales-based talent from across the country.

We will continue consulting carefully with young people to ensure a broad range of dance styles are reflected and valued in our own provision. While we will continue to uphold strong technical training in Contemporary styles, these are not our sole focus. Our approach celebrates diversity in dance practice and opens pathways for wider participation and expression across the whole of Wales. With that in mind, we are shortly hosting a Boys Day of Dance in partnership with Ballet Cymru and National Dance Company of Wales; and later this year, we will launch a new programme of dance and music opportunities for young people in specific areas of multiple deprivation.

National Youth Dance Wales is proud to champion homegrown dance artists, from every region of Wales and from a wide range of backgrounds. We actively support and employ Wales-based practitioners and choreographers across our programmes. In recognition of the sector’s significant challenges at the moment, we have strengthened our own capacity by increasing the leadership in dance role to a full-time position, ensuring sustained support and strategic development for dance in Wales for future generations.

Jamie Jenkins

Head of Dance, National Youth Arts Wales

4th July 2025

National Youth Arts Wales responds to ACW’s review of traditional music in Wales

We welcome Arts Council Wales’s strategic review. It eloquently highlights the vitality and fragility of Welsh traditional music, while outlining a clear path for its sustainability and growth.

At National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW), we champion the importance of arts and creativity for all young people, boosting their wellbeing, communities and education. We are keen to play a role in sustaining and evolving Welsh traditional music through the education and training of young people.

Through our national youth ensembles and partnerships, we provide platforms for young musicians to explore Welsh music. Programmes like Strings Attached, Cor Skills and National Youth Jazz Wales show our commitment to inclusive, high-quality music education that celebrates Wales’s cultural heritage while encouraging creativity and innovation.

We are ready to continue our collaborations with partners such as Tŷ Cerdd, the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and National Music Service Wales to address gaps in provision and create accessible pathways for young people across Wales to engage with traditional music.

The Arts Council’s investment in the Gwerin programme is a vital step forward for the folk music sector, to empower young musicians to connect with and contribute to Welsh folk traditions. Folk music must remain a dynamic and integral part of our cultural identity, safeguarding our uniquely Welsh musical heritage for future generations.

Evan Dawson - Chief Executive,
National Youth Arts Wales

25 June 2025

Statement on proposed closure of Cardiff University's Music Department

The proposed closure of Cardiff University's music department is a profound blow to the cultural and educational landscape of Wales. 

Evan Dawson, CEO of National Youth Arts Wales said:

“The music department at Cardiff University has a proud history, interwoven with the development of Welsh music, notably through the influence of Professor Alun Hoddinott. As a former head of the department, Hoddinott was instrumental in shaping the institution into a powerhouse for musical education and innovation, fostering talents like Karl Jenkins and many others who have enriched our cultural landscape. This department has been the cradle for many composers, musicians and scholars who've left an indelible mark on the arts both in Wales and globally.  

We are witnessing a worrying trend where the arts, particularly music, are being systematically devalued through funding cuts and institutional closures. This decision by Cardiff University threatens the immediate future of current students, staff and the broader music community – whilst it also jeopardises the long-term cultural health of our nation. 

Music education is not merely an academic pursuit - it is a fundamental part of our community's identity, offering young people avenues for expression, personal development and professional opportunities. The closure of this department would drastically reduce the pathways available for those aiming to contribute to Wales's rich musical heritage. 

In our recent "Youth Arts Crisis" statement, we highlighted how chronic underfunding in youth arts is denying opportunities for countless young people, impacting their health, education and community wellbeing. This decision by Cardiff University starkly illustrates the very issues we've been campaigning about. It is imperative that we recognise and invest in the arts as essential to our society's fabric. 

We urge Cardiff University to reconsider its decision. We must all act now to secure a future in which every young person in Wales has the chance to benefit from the arts, ensuring that the cultural legacy of our nation, once nurtured by figures like Alun Hoddinott, continues to flourish for generations to come.”

NYAW is in touch with our many members of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, National Youth Choir of Wales and National Youth Brass Band of Wales who are currently studying at Cardiff University.

"I’m currently in my second year undergraduate at Cardiff University, studying music. The proposal to shut the School of Music has deeply affected staff and students. We’re all unsure how the future looks now, but we know we will feel the impacts of the closures over the next year. For the capital city to lose its music school is a huge blow.” 

NYOW member

"As a third year student at Cardiff University, the School of Music have provided me with many valuable experiences throughout my journey. It's heartbreaking news that our music course at Cardiff might be coming to an end, and a shock to everyone that future students might not have this same opportunity."

NYOW member