Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and NUS announce International Youth Chinese Orchestra Summit
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and the National University of Singapore have launched the International Youth Chinese Orchestra Summit 2026, a new global event bringing together young musicians for a programme of learning, collaboration and performance.
The first summit of its kind hosted by NUS, IYCOS 2026 will begin with an immersive youth camp before moving into three days of intensive summit activity. The programme is designed to give participants opportunities to explore music, culture and leadership in an international context.
The event is built around four core aims. These include developing creativity and innovation through music, building resilience through performance and practice, strengthening cultural intelligence and nurturing moral reasoning alongside artistic values.
Organisers say participants will be encouraged to explore new sounds and ideas through cross-genre projects, modern approaches to Chinese orchestral music and practical sessions such as improvisation and composition. The programme will also focus on teamwork, problem-solving and concentration through performance-based activity and group practice.
A further strand of the summit will examine the multicultural roots of Chinese orchestral music, placing these alongside Southeast Asian and Western traditions in order to deepen participants’ understanding of music in a global cultural context.
The event will also include discussion around ethics in arts leadership, including questions of cultural preservation and reinvention, inclusivity, representation and respectful cultural exchange.
IYCOS 2026 is intended not only as a performance and training opportunity, but also as a platform for young musicians to connect, reflect and help shape the next generation of artists and cultural ambassadors.
IYCOS takes place from 26 July to 3 August 2026. Registration is open now.