The City of Belfast Youth Orchestra is the senior ensemble of the City of Belfast School of Music, the music service provided by the Belfast Education and Library Board. Members are usually aged between 15 to 21 and are drawn from all sections of the community within the greater Belfast area. Membership of the orchestra is by audition with the vast majority of members progressing to the CBYO from within the ranks of the School of Music.

Once a week during the school term, the 90 or so members of the CBYO come together in Castle High School Belfast to rehearse full symphonic repertiore under the baton of condcutor Paul McBride. During these rehearsals coaching in orchestral technique and discipline is also provided by a team of tutors, many of whom are professional musicans from the Ulster Orchestra. This invaluable work enables to CBYO to perform on average 5 concerts every season ranging from full scale events in the Ulster and Waterfront Halls to smaller community based concerts. Each season the opportunity to perform a concerto or other solo work with the orchestra will also be given to some students.

The City of Belfast Youth Orchestra also embarks on bi-annual concert tours acting as ambassadors for the City. In the past the CBYO has performed to great acclaim both accross Europe and on the east coast of the USA. The week to week running of this large ensemble and also special events such as concerts and tours is administered by the orchestra manager Robert Briscoe.

For over 50 years now including some very difficult years the CBYO has constanty enriched the cultural and social lives of young people in Belfast. We are very proud of our history and are honoured to count the likes of Sir James Galway and Barry Douglas as alumni.
A full history of the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra will appear soon on this website.