Towards 2020 (T2020) is a large-scale Cooperation Project co-funded by the EU's Creative Europe cultural funding programme operated by a partnership of nine cultural and commercial organisations from seven EU countries, and thirty associate organisations from Europe and around the globe.

The project is establishing a new model to skill talented young orchestral musicians from all 28 EU member states in a manner that responds to the changing needs of 21st century audiences and society. T2020 is based on an innovatory training prototype, performance programme, digital platform and audience model, all designed to enable cultural development, career opportunities and audience development strategies that are transferable to other cultural and creative sectors.

Europe’s most excellent young players are thus being stretched not only by performances in great concert halls with preeminent conductors and soloists, but also by the challenge of making their own horizons into the future through a variety of initiatives. Initiatives include:

• Apprenticeship schemes with the Budapest Festival Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe Academy
• The Global Exchange Programme that has seen members of the EUYO travel to the Sphinx Organisation in Detroit USA, the New World Symphony in  Miami, USA, and the Neojiba project, Salvador Bahia, Brazil
• The 'Adopt an Orchestra' residency in Thessaloniki
• The European Music Campus in Grafenegg Austria
• Spazio Klassik in Bolzano
• The Urban Remix Project at the Bozar in Brussels
• A new family of EUYO Alumni Teachers
• Entrepreneurial sessions around Europe
• Help in creating or developing regional and national youth orchestras in countries including Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Slovakia
• Audience development initiatives including the 30s/40s Project and the REACT programme
• A new T2020 website
• A new T2020 app

The EUYO and its Partners are thus preparing Europe’s young players for the future with new approaches to teaching, new approaches to engaging audiences, and a strategy that marries the best of the classical music performance tradition with inspiring opportunities for digital and artistic innovation.

Visit the T2020 website