“If giving concerts is about weaving spells, the YGO’s performance [...] was a magician’s dream.”
"[The] author and the man of the evening was Simon Wright, now into his fourth decade as musical director of this orchestra. He has shaped it into a formidable instrument. If there is a mainly amateur orchestra in this country that plays better than this, I have yet to hear it."
"Music is the best medicine. Dragging myself off my sick bed on Saturday afternoon, I really had no expectation of leaving the Barbican after two hours feeling refreshed and invigorated. I should have known better!"
The second concert in our 43rd season features the Leeds Festival Chorus in works by Parry and Mendelssohn, and an orchestral showpiece in the form of Elgar's Enigma Variations. PLEASE NOTE that this is now a Sunday matinee.
The final concert in our 43rd Season featuring works by Humperdinck, Elgar, Strauss, and Dvořák. The orchestra will be joined by Annemarie Federle, the recently appointed principal horn of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, in the Strauss Horn Concerto No.1. PLEASE NOTE that this is now a Sunday matinee.
The second concert in our 43rd season features the Leeds Festival Chorus in works by Parry and Mendelssohn, and an orchestral showpiece in the form of Elgar's Enigma Variations. PLEASE NOTE that this is now a Sunday matinee.
The final concert in our 43rd Season featuring works by Humperdinck, Elgar, Strauss, and Dvořák. The orchestra will be joined by Annemarie Federle, the recently appointed principal horn of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, in the Strauss Horn Concerto No.1. PLEASE NOTE that this is now a Sunday matinee.
Unless otherwise advertised, tickets for our concerts at York Barbican are priced, inclusive of the their service and facility fees, as follows:
General Admission: £18.50 - £24.50
Children and Students: £7.50
Please note that there may also be a transaction fee charged by York Barbican.
Tickets are available online from York Barbican box office via their ticketing agency TicketMaster. Clicking on any of the "Buy tickets" links will take you to the relevant TicketMaster page.
Please note that York Barbican operates a security system to check bags. Large umbrellas, large bags, and backpacks will not be allowed in. Please allow extra time to get through the security.
Purchased tickets can be accessed via the Ticketmaster app on a smartphone or the Ticketmaster website. Tickets can also be downloaded to a smartphone 'wallet' in advance (see Ticketmaster Help). There is free WIFI at the venue for customers to use. If you are unable to access your account when you arrive, the box office will be able to help.
If you have any queries about how Ticketmaster works or do not have a smart phone, please visit the York Barbican Website for further assistance ahead of the concert.
The QPark on Kent Street can get very busy on concert night; alternative parking is available at St Georges Fields and Peel Street.
For any performing organisation, presenting concerts is a financial challenge. We’re proud to present our sponsors who allow us to thrive as an Orchestra; we are very grateful for their wonderful support.
Interested in becoming a sponsor and supporting our orchestra?
Contact usWe have been privilaged over the years, since the orchestra’s beginnings in 1980, to have performed with a number of wonderfully talented soloists. Here are just a few of them…
The York Barbican is one of the major concert and event venues in York. The York Guildhall Orchestra were one of the first music groups to use the venue, way back in 1992. We have continued to do so and are very proud to have been granted the title "Orchestra in Residence".
About our venue
We are a registered charity that uses music to inspire people, to bring happiness, relaxation and exhilaration to their lives, helping to make York a better place. This includes working with the York Music Hub to bring young, aspiring musicians from local schools to our rehearsals and concerts.
We are also working with our principal sponsor, York St John University, helping in their education of young adults who are working towards a career in the world of music.
Contributions received from patrons and sponsors go a long way to help us achieve our charitable aims. Do please consider becoming either an individual Patron or a Corporate Sponsor
In addition to our loyal sponsors we are very proud to be supported in our aims by the following organisations.
Interested in supporting our orchestra?
Contact usProblems with Ticketmaster?
Purchased tickets can be accessed via the Ticketmaster app on a smartphone or the Ticketmaster website. Tickets can also be downloaded to a wallet in advance (see Ticketmaster Help). There is free WIFI at the venue for customers to use. If you are unable to access your account when you arrive, the box office will be able to help. If you have any queries about how Ticketmaster works or do not have a smart phone, please visit the York Barbican Website for further assistance ahead of the concert.
Where can I park?
The closest parking is on Kent Street, a privately run car park owned by QPark.
Other parking is available on Peel Street and, a little further away, on St Georges Fields. These two are Pay and Display and run by City of York Council; although a little further away, they are useful and cheaper alternatives as QPark can become very busy on concert night.
Can I join the orchestra?
Of course! If you are interested in joining the orchestra, please get in touch via the form on the contact us page. We are looking for a standard of at least Grade 8 with confidence as a sight-reader and some experience of playing in a symphony orchestra. Acceptance as a member will depend on vacancies available and, most probably, an audition with the Music Director and the section leader or section principal. We only rehearse a few times immediately prior to a concert, so attendance at all rehearsals is expected - as well as bringing your own music stand! Sheet music is made available a couple of weeks prior to the commencement of rehearsals and players are encouraged to pick up their set of parts and become familiar with the programmed works before attending the first rehearsal.
Are there any Covid-19 restrictions in place at the venue?
There is no requirement to show COVID passports or wear masks. All seating is by reserved ticket allocation - there is no requirement for social distancing.
Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets are available on-line from the York Barbican box office's partner TicketMaster. Click on any of the "Buy tickets" buttons to link through to the relevant Ticketmaster page. We would urge our audience members to book their tickets on-line as this is by far the easiest method and avoids queuing delays on the evening of the concert.
How much are tickets?
Unless otherwise advertised, tickets for our concerts at the York Barbican are priced as follows: General Admission: £24.50 (centre stalls) & £18.50 (side stalls and balcony). Children and Students in full time education: £7.50 (all areas). The prices quoted here include service and facility fees as charged by the York Barbican Box Office, over which the orchestra has no control. There may also be an additional transaction fee, irrespective of how many tickets are purchased. The orchestra reserves the right to amend ticket prices should circumstances change.
