Arts Council of Northern Ireland The National Lottery

Ulster Youth Orchestra – Musical Instruments Programme

23rd September, 2025

Players at the Ulster Youth Orchestra have enjoyed playing a sweet symphony of new music thanks to public funding from a previous Musical Instruments Programme.

A group of woodwind musicians in black tie formal wear pose as a group with their instruments.
Cor anglais, Woodwind section. Group image courtesy of Ulster Youth Orchestra.

The programme funded by the Department of Communities and administered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland allowed the group to purchase a new piccolo, cor anglaise, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, keyboard and two pellegrina violas.

The instruments were allocated to players on long term loan to support personal training and development.

Watch a short video about the Ulster Youth Orchestra here, filmed at their recent summer course at Greenmount College, making the most of their award.


Pictured above: Smokey Sizaret, Ulster Youth Orchestra Principal Bass Clarinet player and has had the instrument since 2022 and Eva Crowley, Ulster Youth Orchestra Principal Cor Anglais player in 2023 and again in 2025.