Bristol Youth Orchestra is the city’s flagship instrumental ensemble featuring over 70 of the most talented young musicians in Bristol.
The orchestra rehearses weekly at Bristol Cathedral Choir School and performs the great works of the orchestral repertoire, as well as ambitious new commissions, in some of the city’s finest venues including St George’s Bristol and Bristol Beacon.
Bristol Youth Orchestra is a member of the Association of British Orchestras and strives to give young musicians a professional orchestral experience and support careers in music.
Entry by audition only. Auditions are held once a year in July for the following year, although instrument dependant we may accept applications during the year.
Ability: Grade 7+
Ages: 12-18
This ensemble is part of our Young Companies in Residence programme, supported by Paragon Music Trust, John Bretten Grassroots Memorial Fund administered through Quartet Community Foundation, Sheila Pollard Grassroots Fund and individual sponsors.
Bristol Youth Orchestra
View 10 images
Bristol Youth Orchestra
View 10 images
Auditions
Entry to Bristol Youth Orchestra is by audition. Applications to audition for Bristol Youth Orchestra for 2025 are now open.
Auditions are held once a year in July for the following year, although instrument dependent we may accept applications during the year. To apply for Bristol Youth Orchestra you must be in Year 7 – Year 13 from September 2025.
Auditions are planned to take place in person on the afternoon/early evening of Wednesday 2 July and Thursday 3 July 2025
Deadline for applications to audition: Monday 9 June, 9am.
How to book
All ensembles and activity enrolment is managed through our online registration portal, SpeedAdmin. Enrolling via SpeedAdmin should be straightforward, but if you should have difficulty, here are some useful steps to follow.
- Click the enrol button on this page to access information on auditions – this will take you to the SpeedAdmin enrolment page.
- If you already have a SpeedAdmin account, please login to your existing one to avoid multiple accounts being created.
- Follow the steps on SpeedAdmin to complete your registration including: ensemble selection, student details, payer details.
- You can hire an instrument from Bristol Beacon per term if needed
- When complete, we will be in touch to arrange payment for your chosen ensemble
Bursaries
Music is for everyone, regardless of background or circumstance. Bristol Beacon offers a variety of bursaries and subsidised instrumental opportunities for children and young people in Bristol schools.
Find out about our range of bursaries, eligibility criteria, how to apply and start your musical journey with us today.
The Venue
Bristol Cathedral Choir School
Getting to the venue
Location: The venue is located on College Square behind Bristol Cathedral and College Green, 100m from Anchor road bus stops.
Address: Bristol Cathedral Choir School, College Square, Bristol BS1 5TS
Bicycle
Find your nearest cycle routes using Cycle Planner.
Car parking
Public car parking is available at Millennium Square (483m) and also on St George’s Road (322m), behind the council buildings.
Bristol Clean Air Zone
Bristol Cathedral is located within the Bristol Clean Air Zone. View a map of the Zone and check if your vehicle will be charged.
Bus/Train
The nearest bus stops are on Anchor Road (100m) and College Green (322m), with frequent services to and from the city centre. The nearest train station is Bristol Temple Meads (1931m).
Access
Mobility
Bristol Cathedral Choir school is fully wheelchair accessible with level access throughout the buildings.
Toilets
Accessible toilet facilities are available in this venue.
Assistance Dogs
All assistance dogs are welcome.
Hearing Facility
A fixed loop hearing assistance system is available at this venue.
Join our access register to help us, help you to have an enjoyable visit.
You may also like
Select a date
-
09:30