Nordsjælland's Youth Symphony Orchestra plays Beethoven, Brahms and Elgar

NUO is a youth symphony orchestra established in the autumn of 2017. Born from a partnership between the Villy Safft Nielsen Foundation and five municipal music schools in North Zealand (Allerød, Rudersdal, Hørsholm, Hillerød, and Furesø), NUO has since expanded to include Helsingør Music School, Hvidovre Music School, and music and cultural schools in Gentofte, Gribskov, Fredensborg, Frederikssund, Roskilde, Lyngby-Taarbæk, Copenhagen, Ballerup, and Herlev. 
 
Dedicated to inspiring young musicians and their teachers, NUO fosters a vibrant environment for classical music education. The program complements the music schools’ own ensemble offerings, providing students with valuable orchestral experience free of charge. Funding is provided by the participating music schools, the Danish Arts Foundation, and generous support from organizations like the Augustinus Foundation and the A.P. Møller Foundation. 
 
Who is part of NUO? 
NUO is a full symphony orchestra with around 60 students aged 10-25 and 15 teachers, all performing under the baton of Morten Ryelund. A distinguished and highly respected conductor, Morten Ryelund has a long and impressive history leading numerous orchestras and musical projects, including DUEN and, since 2017, NUO. With teachers participating in every section, students benefit from direct mentorship and guidance on their respective instruments. 
 
NUO welcomes string, wind, and percussion players who have at least two years of experience and can read music. Places for wind and percussion instruments are limited, so a waiting list may apply. Central to NUO’s mission is providing participants with immersive experiences in large-scale classical music. The repertoire ranges from accessible shorter pieces to grand symphonic movements. Whenever possible, simplified parts are offered to string players (the NUO concept). 
 
StrygerNUO (String NUO) 
Created in 2022 at the request of numerous string teachers, StrygerNUO caters to students who have played for a few years but are not yet ready to join the main NUO orchestra. This preparatory ensemble provides a stepping stone for aspiring orchestral musicians.