NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA

The National Youth Orchestra (NYO) visits Birmingham 78 years after being founded as a post-war symbol of hope and confidence. 

“We open doors for young people,” explains the organisation, “equipping them with new ideas, new experiences, new friends and new music to master. By developing their potential as role models, we employ music to create a movement of changemakers making a positive impact for their generation.”
Comprising 160 teenage musicians, the highly acclaimed NYO will perform three compositions when they visit the city early this month... 

The evening’s programme features Franz Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz No1, Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz, and Dante Part 2: Purgatorio, a work by Thomas Adès, who will also be conducting the concert. 

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wednesday 5 August

NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR

After you’ve caught up with the National Youth Orchestra at Symphony Hall, why not check out the National Youth Choir at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire? Comprising talented teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18, the choir are presenting a one-hour afternoon concert featuring, among other works, Jacob Collier’s jazz anthem World O World, Caroline Shaw’s origami-inspired How To Fold The Wind and Simon & Garfunkel’s 1968 favourite, America. 

The world premiere of a new piece, The Great Sea - written especially for the concert by rising star Esther Bersweden - is also included in the programme. 

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Saturday 22 August

PRESTEIGNE FESTIVAL

Now in its 44th year, the internationally acclaimed Presteigne Festival brings world-class musicians, composers, artists and writers to the Welsh Marches for five inspiring days of music, ideas and imagination over the August Bank Holiday weekend. 

The festival sees contemporary music sit alongside timeless masterpieces, whilst away from the concert hall, visitors can enjoy a three-film retrospective from director Jane Campion. Thought-provoking talks and Presteigne Open Studios - celebrating the town’s thriving community of artists and makers - also feature. 
Talented creatives contributing to this year’s festival include violinist Fenella Humphreys (pictured), Clare Hammond, James Gilchrist, Rowan Pierce, Ben Goldscheider and the much-lauded Presteigne Festival Orchestra & Ensemble, conducted by Artistic Director George Vass.

Various locations, Presteigne, Powys, Thursday 27 - Monday 31 August