Welcome
I'm delighted to invite you to join Tees Valley Youth Orchestra. We are pleased to offer various ways to join the orchestra: in person audition, video submission, or teacher recommendation. We also offer trial rehearsals and entry via our annual workshop. If any of these presents a barrier or if special arrangements need to be made, please do let me know (tvnnowicki@tvms.org.uk)
Below, you will find the standard information about the running of the orchestra.
We are planning a really exciting year in 2025/26, including our international tour in July 2026. Our tours provide a lifetime of memories for all who take part. However, there's so much more to TVYO than just the tours - our fun and focussed rehearsals and fantastic concerts provide excellent high standard musical ensemble training which is unique in the region on this scale, but also incredibly important social and community interactions. We have big plans for 2025, 2026 and beyond.This season, in July 2025, we are performing at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music.
We are encouraging flexibility at this time. If you (or your student) is slightly below the usual standard, but you are keen to join, please do fill in the form and give it a go. If you have any questions at all, please email me (Nicholas Nowicki, conductor of TVYO at tvnnowicki@tvms.org.uk) and I'll be happy to seek to provide clarity.
Above all - we're determined to use this as an opportunity to strengthen and grow the orchestra and we really hope to encourage many to join us!
Rehearsals
Day: Fridays during term time
Time: 6.25pm-9.15pm
Usual Venue: Teesside High School
The Avenue
Eaglescliffe
Stockton-on-Tees
TS16 9AT
Please note that membership of the orchestra usually requires a commitment to attend weekly rehearsals during term time in order to prepare for concerts, although do we do operate a "pre booked absence" system, as we recognise and celebrate that our players are in demand in many fields. Orchestra members come from all over the North-East of England in order to attend and participate in this unique and high level youth orchestra.
The Orchestra
TVYO is a high standard, thriving full-size youth orchestra which gives several concerts each year in the Teesside area and beyond, including foreign tours. It is the only one in the North-East of its type. It regularly tackles exciting repertoire, and recent concerts have included critically acclaimed performances of Shostakovich’s Symphonies No.5, 7 and 10 at Sage Gateshead. The orchestra has been finalists in the National Festival of Music for Youth five years in a row, performing in Symphony Hall, Birmingham. In 2017, they were awarded a National Award. Recent tours have included Hungary in 2016, culminating in a sold-out concert at the famous Vigadó Concert Hall on the banks of the Danube. In 2018 they toured to Granada and Seville. TVYO famously performed at Carnegie Hall to an audience of 1000 in 2019 as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. In 2022, following a 3 year absence of touring due to Covid, we were the sole UK representative at the Florence International Festival of Youth Orchestras, performing for a crowd of 2000+.
Auditions
Entry is by in person audition, teacher recommendation and/or video submission. Trial rehearsals and entry via our annual workshop day (April) are also possible. Please contact me directly under these circumstances. Please fill in the form below for details of all options.
Minimum requirements (these are a rough guide only)
Strings should be roughly Grade 5 or above.
Brass and Woodwind players should be roughly Grade 6 or above.
There is no minimum standard required for Percussion. An ability to read music is preferable. Techniques for percussion instruments can be learned in situ.
These are guidelines only. Players are welcome to apply if their playing shows potential, and their application is supported by a teacher
Current Charges
Currently, for those already registered with TVMS there is no additional charge for membership of TVYO.
For those not already registered, the ensemble membership charge is £18.70 per month.
Application
If you wish to audition, fill your details below and it will be submitted to us. Alternatively, you can print off a copy and send it to:
TVYO Auditions, Tees Valley Music Service, Frederick Nattrass Centre, Swale Road, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1BY or email it to the address below. We will be in touch with you shortly after receiving your application.
If you require further details, telephone TVMS (01642-603600) or email or Nicholas Nowicki, Conductor TVYO, tvnnowicki@tvms.org.uk.