NCO 2016

Commiserations to your DD, Pradaqueen - did you complain about the sight reading? She has done amazingly to progress as well as that. Well worth a go next year.

We're a no here although it was expected given that she was given cello sight reading music at the audition and she plays the violin... Definitely applying next year as she is doing grade 5 in March and expected to be at 6 level in September. I am very proud of how far she has come with the new teacher in 5 months - literally grade 1 to Grade 5 in as many months after three years of getting nowhere with school lessons.... She is advised to audition next year and she certainly will. Congratulations to everyone whether in it out! Xx

Nothing yet, although I know of others who have heard.

Yep, highly unusual.

If DD doesn't get in, we're looking into a couple of woodwind courses locally, or auditioning for the National Youth Recorder Orchestra - she's a recorder player really.

It does seem crazy not to send most things out by e-mail these days.

Can't help thinking - 1139 letters to send out. 2nd class stamp is 54p. £615 added to their bursary fund could make an enormous difference to a couple of families. Wondering why they don't email results out. I will ask/suggest!

Thanks for the update, Musicdoc. I notice that the stamps on the letters in the photo are second class. A few more days to wait maybe.

NCO have just posted this on their facebook page:

We've started to post the much anticipated audition results - but please do continue to be patient as our office staff send out all 1,139 letters.
A reminder to Under 13 members that they will not hear until after the Winter Concert at Fairfield Halls on Sunday 20th December.

Hi, I never joined this thread but have found it today whilst awaiting NCO 2016 results. Both of my children were in NCO 2015 for the first time this year DS(10) cello in U10s and DD(8) violin in Training.
Both reauditioned - DS(10) desperately keen to get in again, DD(8) only wants to go if her best friends get in too... we were in a group of 7 that auditioned this year and no-one has heard yet - but I am closely watching this thread as I am at work and post will get delivered to home! Good luck all!

Waffle - which other options were you looking into ?

My daughter was auditioning for U13's this year but was a bit disappointed by how her audition went, so we are not holding out too much hope. We have just sent off a video audition for the National Children's String Sinfonia & National Children's Chamber Orchestra (as we live in the Channel Islands), does anyone know anything about those orchestras ? As we are not on the mainland we don't have so many options!

Hello all, I am wondering if anyone receive any news?

I read on another board a few years ago that the overall chance of getting in on violin is around 1 in 4. DD plays the flute, which is also super competitive (they only take a handful!) so we are looking into other options too.

Musicmom. Wow, she must be incredibly talented to get to that level in under a year. I think that is why I am not expecting a positive outcome. He is up against such amazing talent.
He is very keen and loves being in the orchestras that he is in. He always practises but doesn't have a lot of time because he does way too many other activities. And unfortunately myself and DH know next to nothing about music, so can't help too much.

Musicmom1, thanks for the information.
I didn't know about the young NSSO until after he applied for NCO. In some ways, it would have been preferable, simply because it is in July, during school time and as he will be at the end of Year 6, he won't be doing much then.
We travel when we can and have held off booking anything because the NCO residential is in the middle of August. This would change a lot for us if he got in, but I obviously wanted to give him the opportunity if it worked out.
Luckily he has time to apply if he doesn't get into the NCO. It sounds like your daughter is about the same age.
That was my worry, he is only now Grade 5 standard and that seems much lower than others of the same age. At school, all the other children that started the violin the same time as him have either given up or are about Grade 1 level. This may be normal for children having lessons at school with the local music service but, has meant he has been seen to excel in that environment, but that is very different to being up against talented musicians from around the country.
He is the Leader of the local Junior Youth Orchestra (most of the children in that orchestra are secondary school age), which he loves and I think this encouraged him to audition for the NCO.

He plays violin, so I expect it is harder to get a place, as so many play violin.
He plays the piano, but obviously that wasn't an option.

Grade 5 is completely fine. A fair few children will get in at a lower standard than that, especially on the less popular instruments. If the child isn't far enough along to bother trying out, NCO will let you know before the audition!

My daughter is pretty pleased that they don't ask any questions at the auditions!

There are people on here whose DCs have done YNSSO, but not mine...

Good luck to everyone.

Hello.
Thanks for your comments. I understand the audition is not based on what exams you passed, I just was no sure that he was even at the right level, if the other children have reached a much higher standard.
He was also surprised they didn't say a word, as he was expecting them to either ask about his music choices or about what else he does ie orchestras or other instruments.
Well we will know soon and he has talked about auditioning for another residential orchestra if he doesn't get in. The Young National Schools Symphony Orchestra (YNSSO).
Does anyone have any experience of this orchestra?

Sorry I missed you before, and welcome.

Being selected for NCO is NOTHING to do with what grade they might have got to - it's all about the performance, whatever level that might be. If a child really isn't far enough along on their instrument, the NCO office will occasionally give the parents a ring and advise that it might be unrealistic to audition - they told me this. An easy piece played well usually trumps a harder piece played badly, and I have known Grade 6 players get into the oldest orchestras and Grade 8s (on the same instrument) not. I also knew a pair of twins who both got in one year, then just one of them the following year.

And most of the time, they just don't have time to chat at the auditions. I don't see why anyone might equate that with a bad outcome - the audition panel aren't the same ones who will watch and compare the videos and make the selections.

chicafuego I know nothing about the NCO, it was never an option for us as DS plays a non-orchestral instrument. What I do know is that an audition is never a waste of time because like any performance the more you do it the easier it becomes. In the future there will no doubt be other auditions for other groups and the more audition experience your son has the less challenging he will find them.

It's not that long to wait now, good luck to all those of you who are waiting.

Sorry chica - just re-read your post and no idea how I convinced myself that your DS plays violin as it doesn't say that in your post at all - what does he play?