Photographs from the first 10 years of The National Youth Folk Ensemble
Cohort 1 Group photo
Cohort 1 Group photo with tutor Rob Harbron (back left), Artistic Director, Sam Sweeney (centre), and tutor Miranda Rutter (back right) before the Ensemble performed at Shrewsbury Folk Festival, August 2017
Photograph: Camilla Greenwell
The first National Youth Folk Ensemble performance
Cohort 1
The first National Youth Folk Ensemble performance at The Met, Bury in Greater Manchester, February 2017
Photograph: Camilla Greenwell
Cohort 2 Group Photo
Cohort 2
Group Photo
Week-long residential working on traditional and new tunes together, at Halsway Manor Somerset, October 2017
Photograph: Camilla Greenwell
Performing at Cecil Sharp House
Cohort 2
The Ensemble performing at Cecil Sharp House, London, April 2018
Photograph: Camilla Greenwell
Cohort 3 Group Photo
Cohort 3
Group Photo
Week-long residential working
on traditional and new tunes together, at Halsway Manor Somerset, October 2019
Photograph: Camilla Greenwell
Rehearsing together in the gardens at Halsway Manor
Cohort 3
Rehearsing together in the gardens at Halsway Manor, Somerset, during a week-long residential, October 2018
Photograph: Camilla Greenwell
Cohort 4 Group Photo
Cohort 4
Group Photo
Week-long residential working on traditional and new tunes together, at Halsway Manor Somerset, October 2019
Photograph: Camilla Greenwell
Cohort 5 Group screenshot
Cohort 5 (2020-21)
Group screenshot
Zoom sessions due to Covid restrictions
Performing at the National Centre for Early Music, York
Cohort 5
Part of the Ensemble playing together at the National Centre for Early Music, York, April 2021.
This was the first ‘in-person’ residential course following the relaxation of Covid restrictions. The Ensemble met in 3 smaller regional groupings in York, London and Exeter.
Photograph: Bryony Bainbridge
Cohort 6 Group Photo
Cohort 6
Group Photo
Week-long residential working on traditional and new tunes together, at Halsway Manor Somerset, October 2021
Photograph: Camilla Greenwell
Performing at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival
Cohort 6
The Ensemble performing at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, August 2022
Photograph: Neil King - Fatea
Cohort 7 Group Photo
Cohort 7
Group Photo
Week-long residential working on traditional and new tunes together, at Halsway Manor Somerset, October 2022
Photograph: Roswitha Chesher
Rehearsing together
Cohort 7
Rehearsing together
Week-long residential working on traditional and new tunes together, at Halsway Manor Somerset, October 2022
Photograph: Roswitha Chesher
Cohort 8 Group Photo
Cohort 8
Group Photo
Week-long residential working on traditional and new tunes together, at Halsway Manor Somerset, October 2023
Photograph: Roswitha Chesher
Workshop with Adriano Adewale
Cohort 8
Workshop with Brazilian percussionist and composer, Adriano Adewale
Week-long residential at Halsway Manor, Somerset, October 2023
Photograph: Roswitha Chesher
Cohort 9 Group Photo
Cohort 9
Group Photo
Week-long residential working
on traditional and new tunes together, at Halsway Manor, Somerset, October 2024
Photograph: Roswitha Chesher
European Bal Dance Workshop
Cohort 9
European Bal Dance Workshop
Week-long residential at Halsway Manor, Somerset, October 2024
Photograph: Roswitha Chesher
Cohort 10 Group Photo
Cohort 10
Group Photo
Week-long residential working on traditional and new tunes together, at Halsway Manor, Somerset, October 2025
Photograph: Roswitha Chesher
Rehearsing together
Cohort 10
Rehearsing together
Week-long residential working on traditional and new tunes together, at Halsway Manor, Somerset, October 2025
Photograph: Roswitha Chesher
Jo Freya, Artistic Director
The Ensemble’s third Artistic Director, from 2023 to present.
Photograph: Roswitha Chesher
Sam Partridge, Artistic Director
The Ensemble’s second Artistic Director, from 2019-2023
Photograph: Camilla Greenwell
Sam Sweeny, Artistic Director
The Ensemble’s first Artistic Director, from 2016-2019
Photograph: Camilla Greenwell
Exhibition open from Monday 16 February to Sunday 26 July and Saturday 22 August to Thursday 27 August 2026 (closed 27 July to 21 August)
Open during Cecil Sharp House opening hours - 9am to 11pm most days
In the stairwell at Cecil Sharp House
Free entry
Photographs from each of the 10 Cohorts of the Ensemble so far.
Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England said: “For a decade, the National Youth Folk Ensemble has nurtured the energy and talent of young musicians and enriched the folk traditions of our country with new diverse voices, while championing the future of our musical heritage. Arts Council England has been proud to invest in an ensemble that has supported so many aspiring folk musicians and inspired such vibrant and creative music-making.”
Includes photography by: Roswitha Chesher, Camilla Greenwell, Neil King (at Fatea), and EFDSS Staff members.
Apply to join the National Youth Folk Ensemble
