Iain Hoy

National Children's Orchestras of Great Britain

NCO is the national orchestral learning programme for younger children across the UK. We give children the very best orchestral learning experiences and help them to realise their full creative potential, while they make lifelong friends and have fun! We place children at the centre of everything that we do and empower them to be the very best they can be. Our Vision: To be a place where children (and grown-ups) can truly flourish through music. Our mission is to maintain the excellence of our programmes, to be an inclusive organisation and to support creativity, child voice and wellbeing for young musicians across the UK. We want to discover - and to share far and wide - what a children's orchestra can do that no other orchestra can. NCO currently comprises of over 600 remarkable young musicians, children aged 8-14, who come together in three National Symphony Orchestras for residential orchestral activity and in four regional Projects ensembles for non-residential orchestral weekends. Our programme includes exceptional in-person orchestral coaching with incredible tutors, artists and conductors, as well as enriched musical learning through complementary digital activities. Young musicians develop their playing and musicality, discover their creativity, learn vital wellbeing skills, find their voices and celebrate the joy of making music with others.