Our vision is young people throughout England discovering, playing and loving folk music.
We wish to encourage progression from earliest grassroots activity in schools and community settings on to lifelong engagement with folk music – as participants and professionals.
The National Youth Folk Ensemble celebrates excellence in youth folk music, bringing together talented young folk musicians from across England to create and perform inspiring new arrangements of folk music.
With young musicians at the heart of the programme, the National Youth Folk Ensemble aims to nurture their talents, aspirations and creativity, enabling them to develop into the folk performers, educators and leaders of the future.
These talented musicians receive expert tuition and guidance from a team of leading folk artist-educators, working with the Ensemble’s Artistic Director (2023–2026), Jo Freya.
Hear the Ensemble live
Thursday 10 April 2025: Cecil Sharp House
Join the Ensemble
The National Youth Folk Ensemble is open to players of any instrument.
You can attend one of our free Open Days to find out much more. The next annual Open Days are expected to be in May 2025.
Application process: detailed info
The wider National Youth Folk Ensemble programme aims to raise the profile of folk music and develop practice in folk education in England through high quality learning and performance experiences.
The National Youth Folk Ensemble is an English Folk Dance and Song Society programme, funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education as a National Youth Music Organisation.
Creating cohesive music that goes far beyond the notes played, encouraging inclusivity, collaboration and, naturally, the next generation of folk musicians
– Songlines, June 2024
Instagram NationalYouthFolk
The National Youth Folk Ensemble:
- takes talented young folk musicians from across England
- has up to 25 players
- is open to young people aged 14–18
- is open to any instrument
- focuses mainly on instrumental music, with song and dance included as elements of the programme
- has a significant focus on traditional folk music from England, reflecting its regional variety, complemented by folk music from from the rest of the UK and beyond
- includes newly devised and composed music drawing from the tradition
- offers membership on an annual basis via audition
- meets for residential courses, rehearsals and performances at various locations across England
- aims to complement, build on and help link existing youth folk music provision
- seeks positive relationships with similar youth folk music ensembles in the other nations of the UK and beyond
- provides extension opportunities for 19–25 year olds who are alumni of the programme
- runs an Engagement Programme that helps foster the growth of local and regional youth folk music provision, particularly where there is currently little provision
The standard was excellent – their musicianship, stage presence, performance skills and enthusiasm made it an evening to remember for a long time
Songlines
Support us, and support the folk arts
We champion folk music and dance at the heart of cultural life, all across England.
Donations provide immediate support. But even more than that, they prove that so many people value what we do – helping us to secure funding from partner organisations.
Can you donate today?
