London
Through our work in London, we are always looking to support the progression of talented young musicians, alongside supporting less-experienced young musicians to develop new skills and experiment creatively. Our Learning projects always culminate in the opportunity to perform to a supportive audience, giving young people the chance to develop skills and confidence on stage. Whether you have ambitions to join NYJO’s Emerging Professionals programme or are looking to try out group music-making for the very first time, come and get involved!
If you would like to find out more about any of our projects in London, please get in touch at [email protected].
NYJO Under 18s
NYJO Under 18s is a Saturday programme for young people aged 11-18, offering training, ensemble-playing, performance opportunities and jams to develop your technique and your creativity. And to have fun too! Many of our members have aspirations to one day play with NYJO’s professional ensembles, but we’re here to support your learning and progress no matter what your goals are, or what level of experience you have when you join us.
If you’re interested in joining our NYJO Under 18s programme, then please get in touch at [email protected].
We currently offer the following groups on Saturdays:
Ensemble
… (11:00-13:30) for young musicians aged 14-18 who are approx. Grade 5+ on their instrument (vocalists welcome) to develop their skills in ensemble playing, sight-reading, playing by ear, and improvisation techniques.
Band
… (14:00-16:00) for young musicians aged 14-18 who are approx. Grade 5+ on their instrument and who are interested in thinking about Big Band music in new ways; learning more about the tradition & exploring new approaches.
First Collective
… (12:00 – 13:30) for young musicians aged 11 – 16 who are approx. Grades 1 – 5 on their instruments (vocalists welcome). A new group for 2025.
Sound Foundations
… (10:30 – 12:00) for young people aged 11 – 16 who are learning the trumpet for the first time!
In our young musicians’ words:
My sight-reading and confidence has improved massively, I’ve also made lots of new friends and am learning so many new songs/techniques.
I feel more confident as everyone supports each other and all of the MDs are so lovely!
I love the people at NYJO. Everyone here is so encouraging and lovely and it makes the experience worthwhile.
Watch the Under 18s in action: Have a look at this video of our Under 18s Band performing at East Greenwich Fayre!
Watch the Under 18s in action: Have a look at this video of our Under 18s First Collective performing at Woolwich Works!
Watch the Under 18s in action: Have a look at this video of our Under 18s Ensemble performing at Woolwich Works!
NYJO Under 18s fees (termly):
- NYJO Under 18s Ensemble: £150
- NYJO Under 18s Band: £125
- NYJO Under 18s First Collective: £50
- Sound Foundations: Free
- NYJO Under 18s Ensemble + Band: £250
Please note that NYJO Under 18s is completely free for any young musician who is in receipt of Free School Meals/any form of benefit/from a low-income background.
In addition to this 25%, 50% and 75% bursaries are available to any young musicians who may otherwise be unable to attend due to financial reasons.
If you’re interested in joining or finding out more about the NYJO Under 18s programme, please get in touch via [email protected]!
Holiday Projects
NYJO Learning’s Holiday Projects offer innovative and progressive opportunities for music education, engagement and support. Projects usually take place across 3-5 days and are open to young musicians aged 12-18 of all abilities. Priority is given to young musicians who live or study in the borough of Greenwich, but anyone is welcome to apply.
If you are interested in taking part in our holiday projects, please get in touch at [email protected] to be added to our mailing list.
Discover NYJO’s latest EP, featuring music created by Under 18s at our May 2024 Holiday Project:
May 2025
In May 2025, NYJO teamed up with Cameron Naylor for a soundscape exploration where young people got the chance to focus on sounds through from first hearing, to recording.
February 2025
In February 2025 we welcomed a group of 30 young people aged 11 – 16 to our Woolwich Works home to explore different kinds of percussion, focusing on Djembe, Steel Pan and Samba.
May 2024
Watch a video about our May 2024 half term project, ran over three days with south-east London-based artist collective Levitation Orchestra, and resulting in our latest EP.
Community Outreach
We offer a range of opportunities for the community surrounding our home at Woolwich Works, and in the wider London area. These include our community singing group, work in schools, and partner projects with Cardboard Citizens and SoundSkool. Through our community outreach work, we are always aiming to help remove some of the barriers people in our area face when accessing arts and music.
We are guided by all four Arts Council NPO Investment Principles within our work. Our Community Outreach programme embeds the Inclusivity & Relevance Principle in our commitment to achieving greater fairness, access and opportunity in music education. We want to embrace the diversity of our communities and the culture they produce.
Read about some of our community projects and programmes here, and as above, get in touch with us at [email protected] with any questions or queries.
Read about how Community Outreach fitted into the EFG London Jazz Festival 2024:
Cross the Tracks 2025
Find out what happened when a NYJO ensemble of Under 18 and Emerging Professional musicians took to the fields at Cross the Tracks Festival in 2025!
First Time Jazz 2025
Read about our January and February First Time Jazz tours, taking a NYJO quintet into 13 schools across London to introduce young people to live jazz music for the first time.
Community Singing Group
NYJO and Woolwich Works are delighted to announce that registration is now open for our new Community Singing Group for adults aged 50+ looking to sing together.
Sound Foundations
We are running a first-access project in partnership with a Greenwich Secondary School to give young people an instrument and group tuition for the first time.
King’s Cross Summer Project
Beth Ismay, Learning Programmes Producer, has been featured on the blog of the Music Workshop Company, talking about our King’s Cross Summer Project for 14-18-year-olds.
SoundSkool 2024
Reflecting on our third year collaborating with SoundSkool, a full-time, fully-funded music industry college for 16-19 year olds in East London.