The City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra represents the pinnacle of musical aspiration for talented young instrumentalists in Sheffield. There is no other experience of its kind on offer in the region. Now in its 45th year this unique youth orchestra has been providing opportunities for young people from Sheffield and the surrounding areas to take part in intensive courses and high-profile performances in a nurturing and sociable environment. Ambitious repertoire, fantastic concert venues, international soloists, radio and television broadcasts, tours abroad; CSYO provides young people with unparalleled musical experiences at a young age and plays a vital role in feeding Sheffield and the UK’s vibrant musical scene.

 

CSYO is a financially independent organisation which receives no local or national government funding. As youth orchestra programmes are now rarely eligible for Arts Council Funding we have to raise the funds required to run the annual programme through trusts and private donations. With an annual programme cost in excess of £100,000, ever-increasing running costs along with families facing the challenges of the cost of living crisis, it is becoming increasingly challenging to raise the funds we need. Without this we would have to ask each member to pay more than £2000 a year in membership which we know very few families could afford, particularly when a third of the orchestra receive additional bursary support.

​

The City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra is at a critical point financially meaning our activity will not be able to continue beyond this year's programme of courses without significantly reducing our activity, unless we are able to bolster our fundraising efforts and raise £75,000. CSYO has survived over the last 10 years due to a £100,000 donation that has helped to cover the annual deficit of the programme. This money has now been spent down and we are using our reserves. We work as efficiently as possible behind the scenes with a lot being provided by goodwill, so that the actual programme costs don't truly reflect the value of the service that the members receive. CSYO acts as a bridge for many young people and its loss would be widely felt for a long time to come.