National Youth Orchestra group photo with instruments held in the air

National Youth Orchestra of USA

Introduction

Each summer, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute brings together 120 of the brightest young musicians, aged 16-19, from across the United States to form the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA). Following a comprehensive audition process and a two-week training residency at Purchase College, State University of New York, with a faculty made-up of principal players from top American orchestras, these remarkable teenagers embark on a tour to some of the great music capitals of the world, serving as dynamic musical ambassadors.

Launched in summer 2013 to great critical acclaim, the first-ever NYO-USA presented concerts with conductor Valery Gergiev and renowned violinist Joshua Bell for enthusiastic audiences in Washington DC; Moscow and St Petersburg; and at the BBC Proms, London. The New York Times remarked: “The performance exuded vitality and confidence.”

Since the inaugural tour in partnership with Askonas Holt the Orchestra has toured the USA, Europe, South America and Asia.

Tours

  • Aug 2024 - Aug 2024
    NYO USA | South America | August 2024

    Marin Alsop Jean-Yves Thibaudet Programme: Symphony No.1, Barber, Rhapsody in Blue, Gershwin, Symphony No.5, Rimsky-Korsakov Auditorio Nacional del Sodre Montevideo | Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires | Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro | Sala Sao Paulo

  • Jul 2023
    NYO USA | North America | July 2023

    Sir Andrew Davis Gil Shaham (violin*) Hilary Hahn (violin) Programme 1: Coleman Giants of Light [Commission by Carnegie Hall], Barber Violin Concerto*, Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique Programme 2: Coleman Giants of Light [Commission by Carnegie Hall], Barber Violin Concerto, Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique Groton Hill Music Centre* | Carnegie Hall, New York* | Lanaudiere Festival, Montreal* | Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville | Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas | Walk Festival Hall, Jackson Hole* | Bing Amphitheater, Stanford* | Rady Shell, San Diego*

  • Aug 2022
    NYO USA | Europe | August 2022

    Daniel Harding Alisa Weilerstein (cello) Programme: Elgar Cello Concerto, Mahler Symphony No.5 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam | Young Euro Classics, | Ravello Festival | Lucerne Festival

  • Aug 2019
    NYO USA | Europe | August 2019

    Sir Antonio Pappano Joyce Didonato (mezzo soprano) Magdalena Kožená (mezzo soprano*) Programme 1: Davis Delicate Tension, Berlioz Les Nuits d'ete, Prokofiev Symphony No.5 Programme 2: Beckman Occidentalis, Berlioz Les Nuits d'ete, Strauss An Alpine Symphony Programme 3: Beckman Occidentalis, Berlioz Les Nuits d'ete, Prokofiev Symphony No.5 YoungEuro Classics, Berlin* | Edinburgh International Festival | BBC Proms | Concertgebouw, Amsterdam | Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg

  • Jul 2018 - Aug 2018
    NYO USA | Asia | July-August 2018

    Michael Tilson Thomas Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) Programme: Hearne Brass Tacks, Gershwin Piano Concerto in F major, Sibelius Symphony No.2 National Concert Hall, Taiwan | Shanghai Symphony Hall | National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing | Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul | Daejeon Culture and Arts Center

  • Jul 2017
    NYO USA | South America | July 2017

    Marin Alsop Lina Gonzales-Granados (conductor, programme 2) James Ross (conductor, programme 2) Programme 1: Adams Short Ride in a Fast Machine, Frank Apu:Tone Poem for Orchestra, Mahler Symphony No.1 Programme 2: (with Orquestra Sinfonica Juvenil de Guadalajara) Gerswhin Cuban Overture, Ginastera Estancia, Frank Latin American Dances, Bizet Carmen Suite No.1, Redmond Silhouette, Bernstein West Side Story: Somewhere, Marquez Conga del Fuego Nuevo Auditorio Telmex, Guadalajara | Auditorio Telmex, Quito | Teatro Sucre, Bogota

  • Jul 2016
    NYO USA | Europe | July 2016

    Valery Gergiev Denis Matsuev (piano) Debussy Prélude à “l'après-midi d'un faune”, Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.3, Prokofiev Symphony No.4, Prokofiev Romeo and Juliette Selections Concertgebouw, Amsterdam | Musee Fabre, Montpellier | Tivoli Konzerthalle, Copenhagen | Smetana Hall, Prague

  • Jul 2015
    NYO USA | Asia | July 2015

    Charles Dutoit YUNDI (piano) Programme: Tan Dun Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds, Beethoven Piano Concerto No.5, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing | Shanghai Oriental Arts Center | Suzhou Culture and Arts Center | Xi'an Concert Hall | Shenzhen Concert Hall | Xinghai Concert Hall, Guangzhou | Hong Kong Cultural Center

Photos

NYO USA
NYO USA at NCPA
NYO USA outside Carnegie Hall
NYO USA
NYO USA