18th February 2026

National Youth Orchestra perform composition by Ark Bolingbroke student

Thirteen-year-old Ark Bolingbroke Academy student James recently had the privilege of hearing his original musical composition A Pirate’s Tale performed by the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) at a concert in Birmingham.

Year 8 pupil James and his fellow Bolingbroke student Pietro from Year 10 were joint winners of a competition run by the NYO for Ark music students to compose an original piece of orchestral music to be performed on a grand stage.

100 musicians from the NYO – dubbed ‘the world’s greatest orchestra of teenagers’ – recently performed James’s winning piece in the iconic Elgar Hall at the University of Birmingham.

The concert saw hundreds of school students from Ark’s secondary schools in Birmingham experience a live orchestra for the first time. The NYO performed a range of pieces including Debussy’s Iberia and Ravel’s Rapsodie Espagnole, as well as modern compositions from Anna Clyne and Karim Al-Zand, and music from Wicked.

James said, “I had never written a piece for full orchestra, so I listened to some orchestral works and recalled what the other parts in the orchestra I play in sounded like. My piano teacher has helped me improve my composition skills, as have my music teachers in school.

“I am incredibly grateful for the skills they have taught me, and they are crucial in me being the musician and composer I am today. I felt nervous and excited. NYO is a very prestigious orchestra; my piece was in safe hands.”

Head of NYO Inspire Rachel Long said, “The atmosphere in the concert hall was special. We saw school students experiencing the power of orchestral music for the first time. It was even more special because they’re watching young people like them on stage. Their eyes opened to the possibilities of what orchestral music can give them.”

Margaret O’Shea, Ark’s Head of Creative and Extended Curriculum, said, “A big thank you to NYO for giving James this opportunity. Composing a piece for a full orchestra as a Year 8 student is an extraordinary achievement.

“Our partnership with the NYO is just one example of the enriched curriculum available to students across the Ark network. Through Ark Music, all our 30,000 students take part in classroom music each year, and 4,000 join a musical club beyond the school day.”

Pietro’s winning piece will be performed by the NYO later this year.