This book celebrates the first fifty years of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, the first national orchestra of its kind in the world, and today one of the outstanding orchestral ensembles in Britain. Musical ability, particularly in choral and solo singing, has traditionally been a characteristic of the Welsh people. But the most important development in music in Wales in the past half-century has been the flowering of instrumental talent. At the leading edge of this development has been the proud model offered by the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, founded in 1946 by the late Irwyn Walters, HMI, which can legitimately claim to be the first national youth orchestra, not simply in Britain, but in the world. The orchestra continually strengthens its place as, firstly, one of the most exciting ensembles in Britain, and, secondly, as a superb training-ground for young Welsh musical talent. Its thousands of past and present young players have been recruited from every part of Wales: many of the very best of them have made outstanding professional careers as performers and music teachers. The book celebrates the making and development of a grand national institution and includes a selection of reminiscences by former members as well as a comprehensive list of members.