Youth Orchestras of Namibia - YONA

Youth Orchestras of Namibia - YONA Youth Orchestras of Namibia (YONA) has a vision to transform the lives of youth through music. Every child is part of an ensemble or orchestra.

We give opportunities to children who would otherwise not have access to music education. At YONA, children learn to play orchestra instruments such as violin, viola, cello, clarinet, oboe, flute and recorder. Our Vision: Social transformation through music
Our Mission: Using music and the orchestra as a tool to foster social transformation; creating unity within diversity, and to develop children academically, socially and personally

Last Friday, our Junior Strings students filled the Moedergemeente with music — from Bach to Rutter to the “The Flintsto...
24/06/2026

Last Friday, our Junior Strings students filled the Moedergemeente with music — from Bach to Rutter to the “The Flintstones”.
Congratulations to all our young musicians, conductors, pianists, volunteers and families for a beautiful evening. This is how we celebrate 10 years of YONA!

🎶 YONA Turns 10! 🎶Ten years ago, Gretel Coetzee’s vision of creating social change through music gave rise to YONA. What...
05/06/2026

🎶 YONA Turns 10! 🎶

Ten years ago, Gretel Coetzee’s vision of creating social change through music gave rise to YONA. What began with a handful of instruments, dedicated volunteers, and children eager to learn has grown into a thriving musical community that has touched hundreds of young lives across Namibia.

As we celebrate this milestone, we honour everyone who has been part of the journey—learners, families, teachers, volunteers, partners, and supporters.

Join us over the coming months as we celebrate 10 years of YONA through a special concert series, culminating in our Gala Concert this September. Keep an eye on our pages for the announcement of the first concert!

Here’s to the next chapter. 🎻✨

On May 9th, YONA senior strings performed at the Europe Day celebrations in Windhoek alongside members of the Namibia Na...
18/05/2026

On May 9th, YONA senior strings performed at the Europe Day celebrations in Windhoek alongside members of the Namibia National Symphony Orchestra, Hot Pocket Band, and Windhoek Camerata.
Opportunities like these allow young musicians to grow in confidence, collaborate with experienced performers, and experience the power of music to bring communities together.
At YONA, we believe music education creates opportunity, connection, and belonging.

For 10 years, YONA has been building something that goes far beyond the stage.What audiences see in concerts is only one...
24/04/2026

For 10 years, YONA has been building something that goes far beyond the stage.
What audiences see in concerts is only one part of the story. Behind it lies a continuous process of learning and development — one that shapes how young people think, focus, and engage with the world.
Research shows that learning music changes the brain: it strengthens connections, supports neuroplasticity, and requires multiple systems to work together at once. Over time, this is linked to improvements in how we process information, concentrate, and solve problems.
Have you noticed that learning music affects your overall performance and abilities?
If you want to read more on this, here are some sources:
- Wan, C. Y., & Schlaug, G. (2010). Music making as a tool for promoting brain plasticity. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
- Herholz, S. C., & Zatorre, R. J. (2012). Musical training as a framework for brain plasticity: behavior, function, and structure. Neuron.

Young Wind Band live at the International Festival The Young Wind Band, a collaboration between YONA and DHPS, will be p...
17/04/2026

Young Wind Band live at the International Festival

The Young Wind Band, a collaboration between YONA and DHPS, will be performing at the Diplomatic Charity Bazaar as part of the International Festival.

📍 Windhoek International School (WIS), Scheppmann Street, Pioneerspark
📅 Saturday, 18 April 2026
🕚 Bazaar: 11:00 – 16:00
🎺 Performance: 14:47 (main stage)
🎟 Free entry

Join us for an afternoon of music, culture, and community.

Address

3 Jackson Kaujeua
Windhoek West
9000

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