30TH FESTIVAL OF YOUTH ORCHESTRAS Comes to the National Concert Hall, Dublin
The programme features Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Symphonic Suite from The Fellowship of the Ring, and more.
The Irish Association of Youth Orchestras will present the 30th Festival of Youth Orchestras, taking place on Saturday, 7 February 2026 at the National Concert Hall, Dublin. Marking three decades of celebrating Ireland's vibrant youth-orchestra community, and their talented members, with a great variety of music played by young people for young people.
This landmark festival will showcase hundreds of young musicians from across the country in two uplifting concerts at 1pm and 7.30pm. The programme features Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Symphonic Suite from The Fellowship of the Ring, selections from Man of Steel by Hans Zimmer, traditional Irish music, original compositions from Irish composers such as Martin Power, Katharina Baker, Vincent Kennedy and much more.
Highlights include:
- A landmark collaboration and live premiere: The Atlantic Tri-Orchestra – created through an IAYO Collaboration Grant in 2024 that brought together young musicians from Donegal Youth Orchestra, Mayo Youth Orchestra and Coole Music Youth Orchestra for shared rehearsals, sectional work and performances – will give the first-ever live performance of Hope Springs Eternal by Vincent Kennedy.
Commissioned by IAYO during the Covid-19 pandemic and originally assembled from remote recordings submitted by 250 young musicians, the piece was first premiered on YouTube as part of the online Youth Orchestra Day of Celebration in a documentary presented by Seán Rocks. Its long-awaited live debut at the Festival marks a major celebratory moment for IAYO and for the young players who helped bring the piece to life. - A return of IAYO ensembles: ConCorda Chamber Orchestra and the Esker Festival Orchestra, both funded and run by IAYO, will return to the festival to mark the special 30th anniversary celebration. An ensemble from ConCorda last performed at the festival in 2015, while the Esker Festival Orchestra - created, directed and conducted by Peter Joyce – will invite previous members of the orchestra from the past 12 years to return to perform for the festival.
- A celebration of Irish traditional music: Ceolfhoireann Traidisiúnta Mhúscraí – Bláth na hÓige make their Festival debut, performing a newly composed piece by Martin Power. Their participation reflects IAYO's expanded membership criteria, now welcoming traditional music ensembles.
Full 2026 Festival Programme:
1pm:
- Atlantic Tri-Orchestra (collaboration between Donegal Youth Orchestra, Coole Music Youth Orchestra and Mayo Youth Orchestra)
- Galway Youth Orchestra
- ConCorda Chamber Orchestra
- UCD Symphony Orchestra
7.30pm:
- Ceolfhoireann Traidisiúnta Mhúscraí – Bláth na hÓige
- Esker Festival Orchestra
- Music Generation Ireland Harp Collective
- Queen's University Symphony Orchestra
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