Edinburgh Youth Orchestra

22/08/2026

🎶Why join EYO in 2027? 🎶

Who better to answer than the young musicians who are already part of it!

We asked our members what EYO gives them - and here’s what Tess, Sean and Alexandra had to say:

🪊Tess: “EYO helps us all to access more serious repertoire and work with tutors who always encourage us to push ourselves.”

🎻 Sean: “It challenges me to play at a higher level and pushes me out of my comfort zone.”

🎶 Alexandra: “EYO provides high quality teaching that helps young musicians’ personal growth as they learn from professional musicians.”

✨Different experiences, but one common thread: EYO helps young musicians grow. ✨

And now it could be your turn…

🚨2027 applications open Monday 24 August

🧡Training Orchestra - ages 7-11, Grade 1-3
💜Ensembles Course - ages 10-18, Grades 4-7+
🩷Symphony Orchestra - ages 13-21, Grade 7+

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Ages 7–21 | Young musicians across Scotland

👀Keep following over the coming weeks as we hear more EYO voices, more experiences and more reasons to join us.

21/08/2026

🎶 A little taste of EYO Ensembles 2026!💜

Here’s a snippet of Scottish Celebration, arranged by Munn, Rennard and Nicholson, and performed by our 156 brilliant young musicians at this year’s Ensembles Course.

A huge thank you to Sistema Scotland for lending us this fantastic piece!

From first notes to full orchestra, EYO is all about bringing young musicians together to learn, connect, perform and have fun.

And now, it’s your turn…

✨ Applications for EYO’s 2027 programmes open on Monday 24 August!

Whether you’re taking your first steps into orchestral playing or you’re ready to tackle major symphonic repertoire, there’s a place for you in EYO.

🧡 Training Orchestra – ages 7–11, Grade 1–3
💜 Ensembles Course – ages 10–18, Grade 4–7+
🩷 Symphony Orchestra – ages 13–21, Grade 7+

Head to our website (link in comments) to find out more and apply from Monday! 🎶

20/08/2026

Memories of a fantastic collaboration with Edinburgh International Festival & NYO USA / NYO2

Prior to NYO-USA’s concert, musicians from the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra performed new music written by NYO-USA’s apprentice composers Henry Golden (Bethesda, MD) and Ethan Hsu (Penn Valley, PA).

📸: Chris Lee Photographer

20/08/2026

Introducing the EYO Symphony Orchestra 🩷

EYO’s Symphony Orchestra is our flagship, auditioned 8-day summer programme, with a preparatory rehearsal day in March, for advanced orchestral instrumentalists aged 13–21 (approximately), working beyond Grade 7 level.

Working with dynamic guest conductor José Salazar, award-winning superstar cellist
Laura van der Heijden and a team of inspirational professional musicians, you’ll take your playing to the next level alongside some of the most exciting young instrumentalists from across Scotland.

From your first rehearsal to the final concert, you’ll be challenged, inspired and supported to perform at your very best - building your skills, confidence and experience as orchestral musicians.

📅 Key dates

✨Audition applications open Monday 24 August and close on Friday 30 October 2026

🎻 Auditions: 5–6 December 2026
In person in Edinburgh & video auditions available

🎶 Prep Rehearsal: Sun 7 March 2027
🎼 Summer Course: Sat 31 July – Sat 7 August 2027

🔉Check out some of our videos from the 2026 Symphony Orchestra and save the date to get your application in from Monday!

📸 Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
Amy Hecht
Gail Photography

19/08/2026

Introducing the EYO Ensembles Course 💜

EYO Ensembles is our four-day, non-auditioned course for young orchestral musicians aged 10–18 (approx P5–S6), working between Grade 4–7+.

You’ll experience the excitement of large-scale ensemble playing in full orchestra, wind band and string ensemble and develop your skills alongside like-minded young musicians in a supportive and nurturing environment led by inspirational tutors.

This course is a chance to challenge yourself, make new friends, build confidence and discover what you can achieve as part of an ensemble. 🎻

And there’s a performance to look forward to! The course culminates in a celebratory concert at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh for the first time, giving friends and family the chance to hear what you’ve been working on.

📅 EYO Ensembles Details
Monday 5 – Thursday 8 April 2027
Course: St George's School, Edinburgh
Concert: Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh

🎉No auditions. Just four days of ensemble playing, connecting with other young musicians and having lots of fun!

💥Applications open Monday 24 August
🎶Full bursaries available

18/08/2026

🎉New for 2027: Your First EYO Experience!

Introducing the EYO Training Orchestra🧡

This new two-day, non-auditioned course is designed for primary school musicians in P3–P7 (recommended P4–P7 for woodwind and brass), working at approximately Grade 1–3 level on an orchestral instrument - strings, woodwind, brass or percussion.

Percussionists will be introduced to orchestral instruments during the course by the fantastic Calum Huggan, so the programme is open to young musicians who currently only play drum kit.

Come together with other young musicians, learn from supportive tutors, discover the excitement of ensemble playing and finish with a celebratory concert for family and friends. 🎶

CHOOSE YOUR DATES:
📅 3–4 April 2027
or
📅 2–3 July 2027

Venue:
St George's School, Edinburgh

Both courses have the same content, so choose the dates that suit you best and register for one course only.

No auditions. Just two days of making music, learning and having fun.

📆Applications open Monday 24 August.
🎶Full bursaries available.

✨Your EYO adventure starts here✨

17/08/2026

🎺THREE PROGRAMMES. ONE EYO.🎶

Applications for EYO’s 2027 programmes open on Monday 24 August - and there are three different programmes to choose from.

✨ EYO Training Orchestra - NEW for 2027 · Primary 3–7 · Approx. Grade 1–3 · No auditions

🎶 EYO Ensembles - Ages c.10–18 · Approx. Grade 4–7+ · No auditions

🎼 EYO Symphony Orchestra - Ages 13–21 · Grade 7+ · Auditions in December 2026

From first experiences of ensemble playing to performing symphonic repertoire at major venues alongside some of the Scotland’s most exciting young musicians, each EYO programme is designed to help you develop your skills, build confidence, make music and find your musical community.

Follow along this week as we take a closer look at each programme and save the date to get your application in next week! 👀

15/08/2026

😌A moment of calm - press play, take a breath and enjoy. 🎶

We danced into the weekend with Márquez… 🔥
Now it’s time to slow things down with a wee snippet from Robert Oetomo’s Soar: Concerto for Marimba No. 1, performed by Calum Huggan and EYO at our concert last weekend.

Cover 📸 Tommy Ga-Ken Wan