Carnegie Hall

Each summer, Carnegie Hall brings together more than 200 of the country’s finest young musicians to make up its three national youth ensembles. They take part in an intensive training residency, perform at Carnegie Hall, and embark on tours to some of the great music capitals of the world, serving as America’s music ambassadors. The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) made its debut with a Carnegie Hall concert and international tour in 2013, thrilling audiences from the start. In the years since, two complementary ensembles have been added: In 2016, NYO2 was formed for outstanding younger classical musicians (ages 14–17), and NYO Jazz was created in 2018 for the nation’s finest jazz instrumentalists (ages 16–19). Each national youth ensemble is led by an all-star faculty of professional musicians.

Over the last decade, nearly 1,500 young musicians have performed with world-class conductors and soloists at prestigious music festivals and concert halls in 23 countries on five continents, spotlighting musical excellence found across the United States and transforming countless lives. More than 100 alums have gone on to join professional orchestras and ensembles in the US and around the globe. Many others go on to be changemakers in fields outside of music, including medicine, law, technology, and more. Discover some of the musical accomplishments of alums of Carnegie Hall’s national youth ensembles.

Are you an alum? Please stay connected with us by emailing nyo-usa@carnegiehall.org, joining our Discord channel, or following us on Facebook and Instagram.