Meet the Ensemble

Ada, fiddle (she/her) North West

Joined in 2021
Favourite track of the moment: Solitude Standing by Suzanne Vega
I also play: Bass & Voice

I've had a brilliant three years with the National Youth Folk Ensemble and I hope when I leave someone else who will grow as much as I have, and have an equally influential experience through the ensemble will take up my place. Someone who might never have accessed anything like the Ensemble before, and can experience something completely new and mind blowing, which is partly why the experience has transformed me in my musicianship and as member of a group so fundamentally.

Alf, cello West Midlands

Joined in 2022
Favourite track of the moment: Old Wagon Way by Sam Sweeney

I enjoy being able to share my love for music with others who share the same interests and also creating amazing sounding music with such a wide range of instruments.

I discovered the National Youth Folk Ensemble through a Halsway youth folk course and Archie Churchill Moss.

Barney, fiddle (he/him) London

Joined in 2022
Favourite track of the moment: Delicious Things by Wolf Alice
I also play: Mandolin

I love being with people from around the country who may otherwise never have met.

Ben, fiddle North East

Joined in 2019
Favourite track of the moment: This is Where The Sky Gets Big by This is the Kit
I also play: Voice

Being able to appreciate and learn from everyone! The talent and variety in the room is awesome.

Emily, bassoon (she/her) South West

Joined in 2023
Favourite track of the moment: Danns’ a Luideagan Odhar

I love the variety of tunes and I love creating harmonies and improvisations to add my own twist to the song.

Euan, fiddle North West

Joined in 2023

I love playing folk music because there’s no restriction when it comes to playing it and how flexible it can be. I think it’s so cool how specific and unique tunes can be when played by different groups even though they’ve been played so many times before.

I discovered the National Youth Folk Ensemble through my local folk group pointed it out so I attended the local open days that were really informative.

Eve, fiddle South West

Joined in 2019
Favourite track of the moment: Dylan Thomas by better oblivion community centre
I also play: Whistle & Voice

I love the freedom to play and interpret the tune in your own way. I enjoy the creative energy in sessions that allow many ideas to form, inspiring the group and giving you the opportunity to lean so much from other musicians.

Finn, trombone (he/him) North West

Joined in 2020
Favourite track of the moment: Plastic off the sofa by Beyoncé
I also play: Whistle & Piano

I love playing folk music so so much, especially because of the community of people that I have discovered through it! The connections I have made by playing with other folk musicians and the beautiful family I have found because of it is one of a kind and I’m so glad I can be part of something this special

Flora, harp South West

Joined in 2023
Favourite track of the moment: Oscar Winning Tears by Raye
I also play: Guitar, Bass & Piano

I enjoy playing folk music because I like collaborating with other musicians, and within the genre it offers a huge amount of freedom and variety

Isla, flute Yorkshire

Joined in 2022
Favourite track of the moment: This Forest by The Rheingans Sisters

One of the best parts of the National Youth Folk Ensemble is all the people I’ve met and become great friends with.

I discovered the Ensemble through my local music hub in York. I went to a gig and saw how much fun they had playing together. I was inspired to go to an open day to find out more and had loads of fun there.

Kitty, fiddle (she/her) South East 

Joined in 2023
Favourite track of the moment: No Matter the Weight by Jonny Flynn
I also play: Whistle, Guitar, Piano and Voice

Folk music gives me the freedom to interpret and play tunes in my own way as well as enjoying other people's different styles and ways of playing. I also love how inclusive and welcoming the folk community is, because when I started playing at sessions I was really shy and I never would have gained the confidence to perform without support from others.

Leo, accordion North West

Joined in 2023
Favourite track of the moment:Tabhair dom do Lamh
I also play: Piano

I enjoy being able to share a space with so many other young like-minded musicians

Matthew, guitar Yorkshire

Joined in 2023
Favourite track of the moment: White Strand by Imar
I also play: Drums, Bass, Mandolin & Bouzouki

My favourite thing about folk tunes is how they lend themselves to adaptation and arrangement; being able to take an age-old piece of music and turn it into something completely original.

I discovered the National Youth Folk Ensemble by meeting someone already in the Ensemble through my local music hub. I went to the Open Day and knew immediately that I would love it.

Orran, whistle North East

Joined in 2022
Favourite track of the moment: Chilling on a Sunday by Kasir
I also play: Piano & Flute

Having the opportunity to create some amazing arrangements with a group of fantastic people has been a life changing opportunity for me.

Polly, fiddle Yorkshire

Joined in 2021
Favourite track of the moment: Red Red Wine by UB40
I also play: Trumpet

Being inspired and in awe of the crazy talented members and tutors in NYFE. I like that the tutors trust us to use our own ideas – hearing your idea played by the whole ensemble who all trust your vision feels amazing.

Saul, recorder (he/him) London

Joined in 2023
Favourite track of the moment: Springtime Girl by Honey and the Bear
I also play: Cajon

I like how with folk music you can come up with crazy arrangements and ideas that would never have existed otherwise and play tunes in an entirely unique way with a unique combination instruments and sounds.

Shenara, concertina (she/her) West Midlands

Joined in 2021
Favourite track of the moment: Bennie and The Jets
I also play: Fiddle, Piano & Voice

I love how engaging and creative the environment at the National Youth Folk Ensemble is. Everyone is so supportive of everyone's ideas and it's full of the most amazing and interesting people.

I discover the Ensemble though attending a local Open Day before I auditioned.

Silas, cello (he/him) South East

Joined in 2023
Favourite track of the moment: Gone Fishing by Flook 
I also play: Bass guitar

I enjoy being allowed the freedom to contribute to the arrangements that we play, as well as the fact that everyone else is passionate and committed to the music.

Sophie, accordion (she/her) North East

Joined in 2023
Favourite track of the moment: Donnie The Highlander by Càrnan
I also play: Northumbrian Small Pipes, Steel Pans, Euphonium & Baritone

Learning new folk tunes and exploring varied styles of playing and arranging in a supportive environment with incredibly talented musicians. The social side has given me a new group of friends with lots of shared interests, it’s all so much fun and I’m learning so much to progress with my music.

Tabetha, fiddle Yorkshire 

Joined in 2023
Favourite track of the moment: Freefalling by Michael McGoldrick
I also play: Flute & Piano

I really enjoy playing with people who also enjoy the same type of music as me. I also love hearing everyone's different interpretations of a tune.”

I discovered the National Youth Folk Ensemble through attending at local Open Day and then auditioning. The audition day was a really relaxed environment and everyone was super friendly and welcoming.

Tamara, guitar (she/her) London

Joined in 2023
Favourite track of the moment: Dizraeli’s new EP The Kid
I also play: Piano, Anglo Concertina and Bass Guitar

I enjoy getting top teaching and advice from the tutors, and the smaller sessions where we can really learn a lot. The evenings are also really fun and it’s really nice to just hang out and play music with people for a week!

Woody, double bass South East

Joined in 2022

I love folk music because it is a brilliant and widespread genre of music

Photography by Camilla Greenwell