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A TALENTED teenager has been named the new leader of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO).
James Jet Uttley, a 17-year-old violinist from Bingley, will head up the Orchestra of 2027, made up of 160 musicians from across the UK.
Half of this year’s orchestra members are state-educated or home-schooled, and 34 per cent are from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Mr Uttley said: "NYO has given me a real sense of belonging, bringing me together with young musicians from across the country who share my passion for orchestral music.
"As this year’s Leader, I want to build a community where we challenge, encourage and bring out the best in one another, and show more teenagers how powerful orchestral music can be."
43 per cent of this year’s NYO musicians progressed through the NYO Inspire programme, designed to support teenagers from state schools and those facing barriers to musical opportunities.
Sarah Alexander OBE, CEO and creative director of NYO, said: "The continued growth in demand for places shows just how many teenagers want orchestral music to be part of their lives.
"NYO Inspire proves that talent is everywhere when you open the right doors, and we’re hugely proud that 43% of this year’s Orchestra came to us through this programme."
Each member of the Orchestra of 2027 will lead a workshop at a local primary school, reaching an estimated 24,000 children through the NYO Local scheme.
Their winter tour, titled Voyage, will run from January 5 to January 8, 2027, with performances in Manchester, Warwick, and London.
Teenagers can attend NYO concerts for free through the organisation’s Free for Teens ticket scheme, ensuring no barriers to experiencing live orchestral music.