Young Musicians
The Weill Music Institute inspires artistic excellence in future generations of talent—from beginners to emerging professionals—by offering exceptional learning resources and opportunities for musicians to work closely with some of today’s leading artists. Learn how Carnegie Hall can help you share your voice with the world as a performer, artist, and leader of tomorrow.
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NYO-USA
The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA)—one of Carnegie Hall’s three national youth ensembles—brings together extraordinary instrumentalists for intensive training and performances with world-class faculty and guest artists. They also tour internationally, serving as dynamic music ambassadors. In summer 2024, Marin Alsop leads NYO-USA with guest pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
Ages: 16–19
Availability for Young Musicians: National
Season: Summer Program
NYO2
NYO2—one of Carnegie Hall’s three national youth ensembles—is an intensive summer training program for outstanding young musicians. The program aims to expand the pool of musicians equipped with the tools to succeed at the highest level, particularly those from communities underserved by and underrepresented in the classical orchestral field.
Ages: 14–17
Availability for Young Musicians: National
Season: Summer Program
NYO Jazz
Gifted young jazz musicians come together as NYO Jazz—one of Carnegie Hall’s three national youth ensembles—to train with and perform alongside world-class jazz masters as well as tour internationally, sharing a uniquely American musical genre with people around the world. Acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and educator Sean Jones returns as artistic director and bandleader in 2023.
Ages: 16–19
Availability for Young Musicians: National
Season: Summer Program
Workshops & Master Classes
Professional and up-and-coming artists receive personal coaching and mentoring from world-class performers and composers who have established themselves on Carnegie Hall’s stages.
Ages: 18–35
Availability for Young Musicians: National, International
Season: School Year
The B-Side
The B-Side is a program for young people that provides an introduction to different career opportunities in the music industry. Whether participants are aspiring artists or future music-industry leaders, this program will provide essential industry-related skills and connections with performing artists, music-industry executives, accomplished producers, songwriters, and more.
Ages: 14–22
Available for Young People: NYC
Season: School Year
Future Music Project
Future Music Project gives young musicians from across New York City the opportunity to create, perform, and produce their own original music across all genres.
Ages: 14–19
Availability for Young Musicians: NYC
Season: School Year
Ensemble Connect
Ensemble Connect is a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education. This two-year fellowship program prepares extraordinary young professional classical musicians for careers that combine musical excellence with teaching, community engagement, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
Ages: Young Professionals
Availability for Young Musicians: NYC
Season: School Year
Resources for Young Musicians
Create original music across genres, hear insights from professional musicians, collaborate with peers, learn how to conquer stage fright, and more.
Ages: 12–35
Not sure where to start?
Carnegie Hall programs for young musicians support the performers, artists, and leaders of tomorrow, helping to share their voices with the world. Take a look through this guide to see which Weill Music Institute programs would be best for you.
Want to join an ensemble?
Carnegie Hall offers a range of ensemble-based opportunities across musical genres. Check out these programs to get started: National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), NYO2, NYO Jazz, and Ensemble Connect.
Want to grow as a performer?
Learn more about your craft in programs that draw upon Carnegie Hall’s collaborations with the world’s greatest artists. Dive into these programs to get a closer look: SongStudio and Orchestral Master Classes.
Want to create your own original music?
Many programs from the Weill Music Institute can help you compose and perform original music across genres. Take a look at these programs if you’re interested in songwriting and composition: The B-Side and our Free Digital Resources for Musicians.
Weill Music Institute Support
We thank our many generous supporters of the education and social impact programs created by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.