Irish Association of Youth Orchestras

• Strings, Wind, Brass, Percussion, Keyboard, Other
• Charitable organisation, Musical instrument lending bank/library, Resource organisation
• Nationwide, Cork

The Irish Association of Youth Orchestras is the national support and resource organisation for youth orchestras in Ireland. Membership of the Association is open to all youth orchestras in Ireland, whether linked to a school, a school of music, a college or university, or to an independent or community-based organisation.

IAYO represents over 5,000 young musicians in 108 youth orchestras in Ireland and assists in the development of youth orchestras in all parts of the country. The Irish Association of Youth Orchestras aims to promote interest in and foster the development of youth orchestras by the following means:

• Encouraging co-operation between all organisations and groups involved in the development of youth orchestras;
• Creating a network for advice and information in relation to youth orchestras;
• Fostering excellence in the youth orchestra movement by facilitating training courses for conductors, teachers and students, access to libraries of music and sharing of unusual instruments, and by offering performance opportunities;
• Acting as a forum with an All Ireland and international dimension for all those involved in youth orchestras;
• Presenting excellence in the youth orchestra movement to a wider public through youth orchestra festivals.