Each year we will look for excellent instrumentalists aged 14 to 18 who are dedicated to developing as folk musicians and excited about collaborating with others who share their passion!

Everyone in the Ensemble experiences:

• four weeks of intensive residential courses in different parts of England
• expert, dedicated tuition and guidance from leading folk musicians
• focussed development of skills in performance, arrangement and leadership
• high-profile performances at major festivals and venues around England

Membership is a one-year commitment from October to August. The residential courses take place in the school holidays: October, February, April and summer. Each year, one of the residential weeks is spent at Halsway Manor, the national centre for folk arts in Somerset.

Application process

Who can apply for the National Youth Folk Ensemble?

The National Youth Folk Ensemble is open to players of any instrument, but we are not looking for singers.

It is free of charge to apply and audition for the National Youth Folk Ensemble, and travel bursaries are available.

To apply for a place in the Ensemble you will need to:

• be aged 14–18 on 1 September of the year you apply
• live in England
• be able to play confidently on your chosen instrument
• be available to attend a final audition in London
• be available to commit to all four weeks of residential courses in the school holidays (October, February, April, and summer)

Who are we looking for?

If the following describes you, we’d love to meet you!

• Confidence, accuracy and skill on your chosen instrument
• An interest in folk music, and desire to learn more
• Ability to learn and play music by ear
• Experience of folk character and style from any tradition
• Passion for playing and collaborating with others
• Interest in developing arrangements and creating music with others
• Commitment to learning and developing as a musician
• Open-mindedness and willingness to share ideas

We also take into account a balance of instruments, gender and geographic spread.

How to Apply

There are three steps to the audition process:

Step 1: Attend a free Open Day

(optional, but highly recommended)

Cecil Sharp House – 27 May 2026

Exeter Phoenix – 28 May 2026

Leeds Conservatoire – 30 May 2026

Step 2: Submit your application (by midnight on 14 June 2026)

• If you don’t already have one, create an English Folk Dance and Song Society account at efdss.org/account 
• Fill in the online application form (availble January 2026), telling us about your musical background and why you want to join the EnsembleUnless you have a Google account and are logged in, the form needs to be answered in one go as it does not allow you to save or return where you left off.
  If you would prefer or would find it more accessible to complete the application form in a Word document please get in touch on ensemble@efdss.org
• Submit a film of you playing your main instrument. Please send your film to ensemble@efdss.org with the subject line ‘Application for National Youth Folk Ensemble 2025–26’.Your film should include the following: 
  • Introduce yourself – say your name and what you plan to play.
  • Play one set of tunes, or two separate pieces, adding up to 6 minutes in total. Your chosen repertoire should be played by ear and be traditional/ contemporary folk tunes of any style.

  Important things to think about:
  • Play music that you know well and enjoy playing.
  • Through your tune choices and playing, you should demonstrate your interest in traditional music and your musicality.
  • We’re looking for quality of playing over quantity and speed – we’d prefer to hear a simpler tune played confidently and well, rather than an overly complex tune, or one played too fast.
  • Please show some contrast in your programme.
  • We know that you may play multiple instruments. For your audition, please choose one instrument to audition on – this should be the instrument you enjoy playing most and are most comfortable and confident playing.

  You can send your film in one of the following ways: 
  • Unlisted YouTube link
  • DropBox link
  • Send large files with WeTransfer.

Step 3: Attend a Creative Audition Day, if invited

Selected musicians will be invited to a Creative Audition Day at Cecil Sharp House in London. For 2026–27, the audition dates are 11 and 12 July 2026.

At the Creative Audition Day, we look at instrumental technique, musicality, ensemble skills, and enthusiasm.

Following the Creative Audition Days, places will be offered to young musicians for the 2026–27 National Youth Folk Ensemble.