2025 Enhanced

National Youth Jazz Orchestra Annual Report 2024–25

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) is a national music education charity founded in 1965, nurturing the next generation of UK jazz talent. In 2024/25 it worked with 3,943 young people across 279 learning sessions, supported 100+ Emerging Professionals with 159 paid performance opportunities, and presented 46 public performances to 8,517 audience members including a debut at Berlin's Konzerthaus. 46% of Under-18 participants receive bursaries and 32% come from regions beyond London. The year marked the passing of founder Bill Ashton OBE and saw the appointment of new CEO Yvette Griffith OBE and four Resident Musical Directors. Total funds stood at £1,423,437.

Report snapshot
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About

Emerging Professionals Programme (ages 18–25) providing rehearsals, masterclasses, performances and educator training; Under 18s weekly ensembles and First Collective beginner group; Widening Access partnerships with Music Education Hubs and schools nationally; First Time Jazz recruitment tour; school in-residence and CPD for music teachers; holiday projects; festival outreach including We Out Here, Cross the Tracks and EFG London Jazz Festival; international performances; community jazz choir in Woolwich; projects with at-risk young people (Cardboard Citizens); James Baldwin tribute; Steam Down collaboration; Sun Ra Reimagined; Young Euro Classic Berlin Custom geography from upload: UK-wide (home base Woolwich, South East London)

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 3,943 young people reached across 279 learning sessions in 16 programmes; 46 public performances reaching 8,517 audience members
Key Metric 2 100+ Emerging Professionals supported with 159 paid performance opportunities; 32% from regions beyond London; 32% from African, Asian, Caribbean or Mixed Heritage backgrounds
Key Metric 3 46% of Under-18 participants receive bursaries; 46% benefit from free access (Pupil Premium, free school meals or low-income families)

Key Outcomes

  • Largest single concert audience of 1,500 for British Standard Time at Berlin's Konzerthaus; NYJO Under 18s alumni have gone on to Birmingham Conservatoire, Leeds Conservatoire and Cambridge University
  • 29 in-school performances including 13 First Time Jazz sessions for 1,900 secondary school students; 69 educator training spaces delivered across 10 sessions
  • 19 workshops reached 365 young people through Widening Access programmes in Lancashire, Leicestershire, Manchester and Essex; 35 school shows reached 2,846 students

Geography

Other

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £138,600,000 and total expenditure £108,350,000 (year ended 31 March 2025, charity no. 1068852); 5 million people welcomed through palace gates; £138.6m income...
Key Metric 2
Over 160,000 members making 300,000+ visits generating £5.8m membership income plus £814k Gift Aid; 217,400 £1 Universal Credit tickets sold; 304,000 visitors to Untold...
Key Metric 3
89% of visitors gained a better understanding of stories (discovery); 83% felt happier after their visit (joy); 76% were inspired to learn more; 28,365...
83% of visitors felt happier after their visit; 89% gained better understanding of palace stories; 94% charitable activities allocation of total expenditure; Tomorrow's Tower campaign secured £1.9m including £1m from Sandys Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund development grant
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
1,363 young members attended Future Yard's youth and community music programmes in 2024/25
Key Metric 2
166 participants enrolled on the Sound Check live-events training programme, the highest cohort yet
Key Metric 3
1,091 free tickets distributed through the Neighbourhood Tickets Scheme, a 50%+ increase on the prior year
90% of Sound Check participants reported an increase in skills and sector awareness, and 91% an increase in confidence
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
10,224 pupils supported through Theatre and Film Festivals and workshops in 2023/24
Key Metric 2
8,775 young people performed across 67 partner theatres in the Theatre Festival
Key Metric 3
604 teachers supported to develop their skills through resources and workshops
100% of surveyed teachers reported their students had greater pride in themselves following the Theatre Festival
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
85 freelance artists employed across education, performance and workshop programmes in 2023/24
Key Metric 2
670 sessions delivered through the Music and Dance Academies, with student enrolment rising 16% to 98 students
Key Metric 3
Over 1.3 million YouTube views and 3,600 viewers of online streamed events in 2023/24
Reconfirmed as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation for a further four years, with a 250% funding uplift