The Ulster Youth Orchestra will perform at the Young Euro Classic festival in Berlin on 12 August 2026, followed by a homecoming concert at Belfast’s Ulster Hall on 16 August.

The Young Euro Classic is an international festival of youth orchestras held each summer at the Konzerthaus in Berlin. The Ulster Youth Orchestra, Northern Ireland’s national youth orchestra, appears among this year’s participants.

The programme for both concerts includes the UK, Irish and German premiere of “Journey to the Otherworld” by Armagh composer Sam Kane, Hamilton Harty’s “The Children of Lir” featuring soprano Rebecca Murphy, and Rachmaninov’s “Symphonic Dances, Op.45”. Conductor Jac van Steen will lead the orchestra for the third time.

While in Berlin, the orchestra will also hold its annual 10-day summer course. Tutors from Berlin orchestras, opera houses and universities will provide training and mentorship. The orchestra also plans outreach workshops with children from schools in East Berlin.

The Ulster Youth Orchestra was established in 1993 and receives funding from the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Tickets for the 16 August concert are available via the Waterfront Hall website.