National Open Youth Orchestra

What National Open Youth Orchestra does

The National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) is a UK charity-operated inclusive orchestra programme serving 11-25 year-old disabled and non-disabled musicians, delivered as a programme of Open Up Music (registered charity 1167028, Bristol-headquartered). Founded in 2018, NOYO operates five regional ensembles in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, and London alongside a national touring orchestra. Participation is free for musicians aged 11-25; the organisation does not require music-reading ability or graded exams and provides pastoral support, travel bursaries, and free access to accessible instruments.

NOYO's distinctive technical asset is the Clarion, an award-winning proprietary accessible digital instrument playable via head movement, eye gaze, or any part of the body. The orchestra's sound blends acoustic instruments with electronic ones, including bass guitar, synthesisers, and the Clarion. The organisation commissions new music written and arranged specifically for diverse musician groups, with recent works including 'Fragile' by Yfat Soul Zisso and 'Ring Out!' by Liam Taylor-West (2025), and 'The Orchestra: a Young Person's Guide' by Charlotte Harding, co-commissioned with BBC (2026).

NOYO is delivered through partnerships with major UK arts institutions: Barbican Centre and Guildhall School of Music & Drama (London), Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Bristol Beacon, Midlands Arts Centre and Services For Education (Birmingham), and BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (Cardiff). In 2026 the orchestra made its BBC Proms debut at Bristol Beacon, with tour dates at the Barbican Centre and Hoddinott Hall Cardiff. The organisation also runs free schools concerts for SEND settings and mainstream schools with accompanying classroom resources. Revenue comes from individual donations, charitable trust and foundation grants, and government funding — founding sponsor ABRSM, Arts Council England, Department for Education, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Youth Music, and numerous smaller trusts have supported the programme across multiple years from 2021-22 through 2025-26.

Name

National Open Youth Orchestra

Legal name

Open Up Music

Website

https://noyo.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) is a UK charity-operated inclusive orchestra programme for 11-25 year-old disabled and non-disabled musicians, running five regional ensembles and a national touring orchestra using accessible digital instruments including the Clarion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Youth Orchestra and Music Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMANAC

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Music Education (Instrumental & Vocal)

SECONDARYEDAMAAAE

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

SECONDARYEDAMANAE

Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Music Education (Instrumental & Vocal)

Keywords

• Inclusive youth orchestra
• Accessible music education
• Disabled musicians program
• Orchestra training
• Accessible concert performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations supporting young disabled musicians. Suggested amounts include £10 for travel bursary, £25 for pastoral support, £50 for accessible instruments.
2. Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from charitable foundations including ABRSM (founding sponsor), Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Arts Council England, Youth Music, and others. Multi-year funding arrangements with various grant cycles (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NOYO delivers free inclusive orchestral training and performance opportunities for 11-25 year-old disabled and non-disabled musicians through five Regional NOYO Ensembles and a national touring orchestra. The organisation commissions new music, blends acoustic and electronic instruments (including the accessible Clarion digital instrument), and stages performances at major UK venues and the BBC Proms. All services are provided at no cost to participants, funded by donations and charitable grants.

Product overview

The National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) is a pioneering inclusive orchestra program consisting of the main National Open Youth Orchestra touring ensemble and five Regional NOYO Ensembles across the UK. The organization offers a progression route for disabled and non-disabled young musicians (ages 11-25) to develop their skills through inclusive ensemble practice. Key offerings include the touring National Open Youth Orchestra performing contemporary classical music at major venues, Regional NOYO Ensembles in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, and London, the accessible Clarion digital instrument, and educational programs including schools concerts. The NOYO sound blends acoustic and electronic instruments, including unconventional orchestral instruments like bass guitar, synthesiser, and the Clarion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Open Youth Orchestra (National Touring Orchestra) A pioneering inclusive touring orchestra of 11-25 year-old disabled and non-disabled musicians performing contemporary classical music at major UK venues, including the BBC Proms, Barbican Centre, Bristol Beacon, and Hoddinott Hall. Composed of musicians who progress through the Regional NOYO Ensembles.
• Regional NOYO Ensembles Five regional ensembles in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, and London providing inclusive and accessible rehearsal environments for young disabled and non-disabled musicians aged 11-25 to develop skills at an advanced level. Operated in partnership with Midlands Arts Centre, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Bristol Beacon, BBC National Orchestra of Wales/RWCMD, and Guildhall School of Music & Drama respectively.
• Clarion Accessible Digital Instrument An award-winning digital instrument designed for accessibility, allowing musicians with disabilities to play using head movement, eye gaze, or any part of the body. Free access is provided to NOYO musicians who need it. Developed as part of Open Up Music's accessible music programme.
• Schools Concert Programme Free concerts for students and staff at schools and SEND settings, featuring inclusive ensemble performances with accessibility accommodations. Free classroom resources are provided in advance to attending schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of musicians at schools concerts are disabled or neurodivergent, demonstrating inclusive participation.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and founding.

• BarbicanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner supporting the creation of performance opportunities. Co-presenting BBC Proms and school concerts with NOYO. 10th year anniversary partnership for 2026 school concert.
• Guildhall School of Music & DramacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon NOYO Ensemble operates in partnership with Guildhall. Partnership with Barbican and Guildhall celebrating 10th anniversary in 2026. NOYO musicians develop skills at advanced level.
• Bournemouth Symphony OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBournemouth NOYO Ensemble runs in partnership with BSO. BSO Resound conductor James Rose visited London rehearsals. First series of concerts held at Lighthouse Poole with BSO Resound in 2022.
• Bristol BeaconcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBristol NOYO Ensemble operates in partnership with Bristol Beacon. Venue for BBC Proms 2026 performance at Bristol Beacon.
• Midlands Arts CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirmingham NOYO Ensemble runs in partnership with Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) and Services For Education.
• Services For EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirmingham NOYO Ensemble operates in partnership with Services For Education alongside Midlands Arts Centre.
• BBC National Orchestra of WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardiff NOYO Ensemble runs in partnership with BBC NOW and Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. 13 BBC NOW musicians will join 18 NOYO musicians for 2026 BBC Proms concerts.
• Royal Welsh College of Music & DramacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardiff NOYO Ensemble operates in partnership with RWCMD alongside BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
• B:MusicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner supporting creation of performance opportunities alongside Barbican.
• Black Lives in MusicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOYO is a partner of Black Lives in Music, specifically welcoming musicians from the Global Majority to apply.
• Open Up MusicfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBristol-based registered charity (Charity number 1167028, Company number 6414209) that powers the National Open Youth Orchestra.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Paraorchestra: UK-based disabled-led professional chamber orchestra that, like NOYO, performs with disabled and non-disabled musicians using acoustic and accessible instruments (including the Clarion). It is the most directly comparable inclusive-orchestra peer.
• National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain: The UK's flagship youth orchestra for 13-19 year-olds. Comparable as a national-tier youth orchestra programme with regional feeder ensembles, although it does not focus on disability inclusion like NOYO.
• Sistema Scotland: Scottish charity running intensive ensemble-based music programmes for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Comparable on the youth-ensemble education and progression-pipeline model, though focused on deprivation rather than disability.
• Drake Music: UK charity pioneering music, disability, and technology, including accessible instrument design and inclusive music-making in education. Directly comparable on the accessibility-in-music mission and overlaps on accessible-instrument technology with the Clarion.

Others

• Youth Music: UK charity funding music-making projects for children and young people, including NOYO itself. Comparable as a funder/ecosystem peer in the youth music inclusion space rather than a direct operator.
• Open Up Music: The parent Bristol-based charity (Charity number 1167028) that operates NOYO. Not a competitor but the immediate parent entity; comparable on mission and overlapping leadership.

Emerging players

• Southbank Sinfonia: London-based graduate-level orchestral training programme for early-career musicians. Comparable as an orchestral bridge-to-professional programme, though it targets post-conservatoire musicians rather than 11-25 year-olds.

Regional players

• BSO Resound: The inclusive strand of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (a direct NOYO partner). Comparable as an inclusive ensemble model embedded within a professional orchestra, but regionally focused on the South of England.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWfqIsKyuljjpYGHJU0PQxA
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalOpenYouthOrchestra
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nationalopenyouthorchestra
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalopenyouthorchestra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Open Youth Orchestra