THIS IS THE NATIONAL YOUTH FRENCH HORN ENSEMBLE OF GREAT BRITAIN
Come blow your horn . . . The NYFHE is the premier event for the cream of the UK's young French Horn talent. 2026 with be our seventh year.
A week of intensive coaching, led by some of the country's foremost players and teachers.
Dates:
Sun 16 - Fri 21 August 2026
Venue:
Cheltenham Ladies' College
Bayshill Rd.
Cheltenham
Gloucs. GL50 3EP
What to expect at NYFHE
There are many excellent extended music courses across the country for young instrumentalists. Within large ensembles, however, each section must wait its turn for moments of prominence, and the French horns may only play for a fraction of the time.
At NYFHE, things are different. Here, the French horn takes centre stage all week. You will live and breathe horn playing, working with some of the finest teachers and young performers in the world.
Each day is carefully structured to support your development, with dedicated time for individual technique, ensemble work, and a range of arrangements and original repertoire for horn ensemble. There will also be opportunities for masterclasses, as well as performances.
NYFHE is led by outstanding professional orchestral players and teachers. Opportunities to perform in a top-level horn ensemble are rare at the best of times, and even more so now, making this week especially valuable for aspiring young players.
If you love playing the horn and feel it’s a central part of your life, this course is for you.
You may sometimes look around and wonder why others don’t share your level of passion; but here, you’ll find like-minded musicians who feel exactly the same.
Bring together a group of dedicated players, add inspiring teachers, and the results are truly remarkable. Many students say this is the one week of the year when they can completely be themselves.
If you are Grade 6 or above and and feel that you’ll be able to cope with the stamina and commitment the course demands, we would be delighted to welcome you to one of the most exciting horn ensembles around.
And if it’s your first time, don’t worry. Everyone involved, from the pastoral team and staff to the teachers and fellow students, shares a rare generosity of spirit that you’ll come to value deeply. After all, being part of a horn section is all about teamwork.
We are here for you and we’re confident you’ll return to school in September with a level of confidence and strength in your playing that will truly impress your teachers.
Course Leaders
Tim Thorpe
With the BBC NOW Tim has appeared as a soloist performing Mozart’s 4th Horn Concerto at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Strauss’ 1st Horn Concerto and Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings in tours of England and Wales, all broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
He is also the horn soloist for the BBC Ten Pieces film, performing the Rondo to Mozart’s 4th Horn Concerto.
Away from the orchestra Tim enjoys a varied musical life as a chamber musician, soloist and as a session musician for film and TV soundtracks. He regularly gives masterclasses and recitals across the UK and Europe.
Tom Taffinder
He regularly plays with orchestras such as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Welsh National Opera and Birmingham Royal Ballet; and has worked on touring shows including Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (Chair Holder), 42nd Street, The King & I, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, Beauty & The Beast, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard, and Billy Elliot.
As a chamber musician, Tom is a member of Top Brass Trio, who perform for Live Music Now and Music in Hospitals and Care, and have also appeared multiple times on BBC Radio 3 and for BBC Songs of Praise.
As well as tutoring on NYFHE, Tom is Horn tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Junior Department, and for the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.
Tom created and continues to run the Healthy Musician programme at the RWCMD Junior Department, and is also Wellbeing lead for NCO GB.
Zoe Tweed
She freelanced with various orchestras throughout the UK during and after finishing her studies, and accepted the position of 3rd Horn with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra a year after finishing her studies, in December 2023, becoming the youngest member of the orchestra.
As a soloist, Zoë has performed Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4 with both the Hereford Symphony Orchestra and Oxford Sinfonia in 2023, and Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 1 with Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra in 2024. As a Countess of Munster Recital Scheme Artist she performs solo recitals across the UK.
Zoë has recorded music for film and TV and enjoys a wide variety of musical genres, and writes and arranges music for various instruments and ensembles.
Tim Jackson
As a composer and arranger, Timothy has received commissions from groups as diverse as the Academy of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields, the Hallè, the Philharmonia and the Royal Opera House.
He was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of fifteen. He has gratitude for the opportunities and encouragement he received from the enthusiastic mentors around his Lancashire home and involvement with the youth orchestras in that area.
Tim helped us to launch NYFHE in the difficult year of 2020 when the whole course had to be virtual and via Zoom.
From NYFHE 2023
Rusian & Ludmilla Overture, Glinka
From NYFHE 2023
Tico Tico no Fuba, Zequinha de Abreu
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Registered charity number 1140444