NCO 2018

Hi. First post. DD is 11 and plays violin and about to take grade 7. Also self teaching piano, flute, ukulele etc.
We have been thinking of auditioning for this but the fees are just so high on top of lesson fees and borough orchestra . Her teacher thinks she would get in and might get a bursary but are these not means tested to low income families? I'm not sure how it works! We are on what you might call a "reasonable" income but after music costs etc., we wouldn't be able to do it. Anyone have any insight into NCO bursaries? TIA.

Just bumping this for the last application date... hope you all have your applications in, folks! I guess some of us will start to receive audition appointments in the coming week or two.

Mini not sure he did his grade 7 in July and has been away - on music courses and holiday since then so hasn't done lots of practice of new pieces , plus the new ones are a massive jump up in terms of technical requirements so it's probably better to play it safe ( then again ds has never done that !!)

trumpet one of each as a compromise?! We have one new piece chosen especially and one she's had a few months, though that was chosen as a festival entry/ potential audition piece.

Ds was in the under 12s for the first time this year and loved it. He knows he might not get in again ( especially with the age changes?) but will be having a go at auditioning for the under 13s . He's sort of picked his pieces - he wants to play new ones I want him to give himself a break and play ones that he used for his exams and performances at the end of last school year as they are about the right standard - grade 7 and he can perform them well. We shall probably decide after his lesson next week. His audition will be much sooner this year ( the start of october) as he's away on a music course at half term - another reason for picking pieces that he can already play confidently

My ds will be auditioning for Mains this year. He's been in NCO for 2 years and loves it! Fingers crossed...

My two will be auditioning this year - my son (cello) for u13s and my daughter (violin) for u11s. They have both been in it for 3yrs. Each year the standard of the competition is higher - both would love to be in again this year but we know it might not happen.
Musicathome my son auditioned with G4 pieces the first year (U10s).

It's very hard for most of us to get out of the mindset of grades/ ages, but that really isn't what they look for. Good sight reading, a 'have a go' attitude, decent tuning and some knowledge of forwards and backwards extensions would be desirable at 7-8 years. My younger daughter started the cello in her late 5s, and was nowhere near that at 7, but her teacher says she still progressed well for a 5 year old. She recently passed Grade 3 with distinction at 9 years and 1 month old.

My 5-year old started learning cello recently. What is the expectation at age 7 to stand a realistic chance of being successful for nco audition? Also, do you have any recommendations at this age.

Under 10s, musicathome. The local 9 year olds auditioning on cello last year were all playing grade 3 pieces. It's a fun experience anyway, and you don't know unless you try.

I have been thinking about putting in my middle DS up for audition with his cell. He is 9 (will be 10 in November), which age group orchestra would he go to?
I'm not sure he is at the right standard...

My little miss will try for u10s this year for the first time but like fleur we are going into it as a learning experience; it will be her first formal audition for anything. Though she's more and more keen to be successful as she's seen the summer Facebook posts and things! So I'm trying to manage her expectations.... she's still quite little.
We do have her programme chosen but because she needs her pieces for a concert late September and the audition date we are hoping for is early on in their dates.

I've loved hearing about the courses this year, its wonderful hearing how much the children get from it. From my girl's perspective, what particularly seems to appeal to her is the prospect of being in an orchestra where there are some children the same age as her, though she'd still be a younger one. But in her bands, she's half the age and size of most of her band mates, in her school orchestra she's 4 years younger than her desk partners.

Looking forward to hearing lots more from you old hands and seeing where this takes us!

Hello, I have Goo (11) who plays flute and piano. She has been in NCO for the past three years and lives for it, so she's trying out for the 4th time, during the half term holiday. She and I have been trying to drum up some interest at the village school and also amongst my pupils, but without success so far. I tell everyone on here to have a go though!

If Goo were successful, she would repeat Under 12s, because of the recent change in age requirements. We haven't started thinking about pieces yet, but I expect everyone is going to come along and scare me by rattling off their programmes soon!

Hello! Dd is auditioning for the first time for U11, I don't think she's the right level but we thought it is a good experience and she'll at least know what to expect for next year if she decides to do it again.

I'll sure bombard you veterans with lots of questions.