The outstanding contribution to British musical life of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYO), ‘the world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers’, was acknowledged when it received The Queen’s Medal for Music in 2012. Upon receiving the Ensemble Award at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards in 2016 – the highest recognition for live classical music-making in the UK – it was cited as having been ‘a beacon of excellence for decades’. Founded in 1948, the Orchestra draws its 164 musicians from every background and part of the United Kingdom, providing orchestral performance opportunities and breakthrough experiences for the brightest and most committed musicians aged between thirteen and nineteen. Many of the UK’s leading musicians are alumni of the Orchestra, including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Mark Elder, Judith Weir, Thomas Adès, and Alison Balsom. The Orchestra comes together three times a year for residential rehearsals, working alongside leading international conductors, tutors, and soloists. Each residency culminates in a high-profile concert tour, including an annual televised appearance at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. To increase the reach and impact of its initiatives, it has launched two strands of activity, NYO Inspire and NYO Open, which target committed young musicians who lack opportunities to advance their playing. Named Classic FM’s Orchestra of Teenagers, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain works with Classic FM to inspire a new generation of young concert goers, a major focus of the partnership being a £5 ticket scheme for under twenty-fives to all the Orchestra’s concerts. www.nyo.org.uk