History

The first National Youth Recorder Orchestra was launched in 2002. The Society of Recorder Players, at the suggestion of Colin Touchin, launched the Orchestra with the help of a legacy from the late Arthur Ingram, a former Treasurer of the Society.

Whilst the Society continues to offer financial support, from September 2014 NYRO has become an independent charity, with its own Trustees.

NYRO was joined in 2005 by the National Youth Training Recorder Orchestra (NYTRO) and in 2007 by BlockWork, a one-to-a-part chamber orchestra formed from the most accomplished players from each Summer Course.

Summer concerts have been given in London, Kendal, Street (Somerset), Cambridge, Manchester, Gateshead, Birmingham, Epsom, Denbigh and York, with the standard of auditioned players rising each year, and the repertoire performed including both original compositions and arrangements.

NYRO gave performances abroad in two significant events during the year 2004 to 2005: The First International Convention of Recorder Orchestras (ICRO) in Holland, and the Steps in Time Recorder Festival in Armidale, Australia.

In 2014, NYRO was joined on the Summer Course by 38 players from the Landes-Jugend-Blockflötenorchester of Baden-Württemberg and both groups relished the collaberation. In the Summer of 2016, NYRO was able to travel Weil der Stadt to join with the LJBO for a very successful return visit.