About us

The City of Coventry Youth Orchestra is a full symphony orchestra of some 65 players.

The orchestra has steadily grown in reputation and stature over the years both nationally and internationally. In 1984 they undertook a successful tour of Austria and were prize winners in the International Festival of Youth and Music, Vienna. In the summer of 1986 the orchestra undertook a concert tour of Yugoslavia. In July 1990, a tour of Russia and in July 1993 performed in Dresden, Prague and Bavaria. In April 1991 they were the first, Youth Symphony Orchestra to perform in Symphony Hall, Birmingham. In July 1996 the orchestra toured Poland giving concerts in Gdansk, Warsaw and Krakow. They have also performed at the Scottish Exhibition and Convention Centre, Glasgow to great acclaim from an audience of 3,700 delegates attending the 67th annual conference of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland.

The orchestra has twice toured California in 1998 and 2000, giving concerts in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Camarillo, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Sun City, the Queen Mary at Long Beach and Disneyland at Anaheim. They were also featured on the 'Hour of Power' from the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove.

In June 2000 the orchestra participated in the 17th International Church Music Festival in Coventry Cathedral. Taking part were musicians from Bulgaria, Holland, India, Poland, Slovak Republic, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

To extend the musical experience of its members, the orchestra commissions new works and also engages guest soloists and conductors as funds allow. In recent years the orchestra members have been coached by players from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London and from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

In July 2002 the orchestra celebrated its 40th Anniversary with a concert in the Guy Nelson Hall.

In 2006 and 2008 the orchestra once again performed in Symphony Hall Birmingham as part of the Stagecoach Theatre Arts International Choral Festival.