National Youth Folk Ensemble

The National Youth Folk Ensemble is a project run by the English Folk Dance & Song Society. Members are between 14 and 18 years of age and are brought together from across England to create inspiring new arrangements of folk music.

Ensemble members experience intensive residential courses, receive expert tuition and guidance from leading folk musicians, and perform at arts venues and festivals. The 2017-18 line-up included 17 young musicians playing piano, accordion, fiddle, pipes, guitar, flute, banjo, viola and cello.

The ensemble focuses mainly on instrumental music, with song and dance as important elements of the programme. Musically, their focus sits predominantly with English traditional folk music. Regional variety is clearly represented, and is complemented by folk music from the rest of Britain and beyond.

Courses, rehearsals and performances across England aim to help build and maintain a network of performers across the country.