The National Youth Orchestra (NYO) is the UK’s leading organisation championing orchestral music as a powerful agent for teenage development.

NYO is a welcoming community for teenagers of all backgrounds and different levels of ability, supporting their development in both music and in life, through playing and sharing music. It activates teenagers’ confidence, optimism and skills to play their part in the world today. Joining The National Youth Orchestra is the greatest adventure teenagers can have through playing orchestral music.

The NYO is at the heart of this community, celebrated internationally as the ‘world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers.’ These 160 exceptional musicians from different backgrounds across the UK, brought together through their love of music and unrivalled talent, thrill audiences with performances in iconic venues and play their part as change makers for their generation; performing for, mentoring and inspiring thousands more young people.  See the Orchestra at work here, and see the kind of encouragement they offer others here.

Many more teenagers with musical potential, who want to make music a bigger part of their lives, get involved through NYO Inspire. This free programme is for young people from state schools who are facing limited opportunities, and those from backgrounds underrepresented in orchestral music. At NYO Inspire, teenagers play their part in a community where young people encourage one another, opening up their musical education and beyond.

Tickets are free for teenagers at NYO concerts, and more than half of the performances take place in youth settings for teenage audiences, including its high impact ‘Play the School’ programme with secondary schools. See our work with teenagers as change makers in schools here.

Only 9% of the money needed to provide these life-changing opportunities for young people comes from the Arts Council and the Department of Education. NYO must raise the rest from individuals, trusts and foundations, and companies; it enjoys developing relationships and partnerships with those who want to play their part.

Over the next decade, NYO aim to build a significantly bigger national community with multiple access points, where teenagers from all backgrounds and different levels of ability can pursue music together in the face of extreme pressures and limited opportunities for collaboration, self-realisation, and skills development. Its plans address gaps in music education provision, especially where social inequality exacerbates challenges faced by young people.

The National Youth Orchestra has a proud history of supporting teenagers’ aspirations. The organisation was founded in 1948 as a post war symbol of hope and confidence in the UK’s young people. For over 70 years, its pioneering spirit has made it an award-winning leader in music education and a champion of teenage potential. NYO alumni can be found in leading roles in classical music and orchestras all over the world and in all walks of life.

Find out more about NYO on its website andYoutube channel, as well as directly from teenagers @NYO_GB on TikTok & Instagram. This summer, the Orchestra is performing in Birmingham (2nd Aug), Saffron Hall (4th Aug) and BBC Proms (5th Aug) - with a live broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC 4.

The National Youth Orchestra is a registered charity. The Chair is responsible for ensuring robust and effective governance of the Board, in line with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as following recommended practice as laid out in the Charity Governance Code. The Chair will lead the Board, and ensure that it is effective in its task of setting and implementing the organisation’s direction and strategy.

Routine activity will involve:

• Working collaboratively with the Board of Trustees and CEO & Creative Director to drive the successful delivery of NYO’s 10-year Open Up strategy
• Holding the Board and Senior Management Team to account for the Charity’s mission, vision, culture and strategic direction
• Providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that each Trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity
• Acting as an effective ambassador for NYO and its mission cause
• Developing and maintaining relationships with key influencers within Government and the music, education and youth sectors
• Ensuring that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities and manage and mitigate the risks
• Ensuring that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the charity, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability
• Leading Board recruitment to ensure that there is an appropriate number of Trustees with the requisite mix of skills, experience and backgrounds represented on the Board
• Actively promoting equality, diversity and inclusion at all levels of the organisation, including at the board, ensuring shared understanding of NYO’s EDI goals and priorities

Over 75% of NYO's income is derived from philanthropic support. It is therefore essential that the Chair leads a positive fundraising culture at NYO and plays an active role in fundraising and income generation, working with the wider Board to support the charity’s essential fundraising objectives.

As it looks to its exciting future, NYO seeks a new Chair with a passion for young people and the transformative power of orchestral music. Candidates will need to demonstrate:

• Strong and visible commitment to NYO, its mission and strategic objectives
• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level with the commercial acumen to ensure effective financial performance
• Ideally, experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees
• Capability to chair meetings effectively
• Ability to build an effective board and galvanise Trustees by fostering a collaborative team environment, delegating appropriately and ensuring that Trustees play their part and feel engaged
• Ability to build a high support / high challenge approach for the CEO and wider management team
• Personal gravitas to lead a significant national organisation; credibility with donors, patrons and senior influencers within Government and the sectors in which NYO operates
• Willingness to play an active role in fundraising to achieve ambitious income targets
• Tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively
• Curiosity for, openness to, and interest in the issues which affect teenagers and a strong connection to NYO’s youth voice principles

Board meetings take place quarterly, and are held in person in London. There is also an annual away day and, subject to the overall makeup of the Board, the Chair may also be required to attend sub-committee meetings. Regular attendance at NYO activities and events nationwide is expected. No remuneration is available for the role, but expenses may be claimed in line with the charity’s expenses policy if appropriate. The Chair will serve a four-year term and can be re-appointed by the Trustees for a second four-year term.

Location

Candidates can be based anywhere in the UK, so long as they are willing to travel for meetings and events.