NCO 2018 (continued)

That's all useful, thank you.

Sirius - I've just had an email confirming receipt of forms.

Looking back at last years emails, hoody pre-orders opened on 11 Jan, but they weren't dispatched until 21st Feb. The year before the hoodies arrived at the Easter course and were distributed there. Hopefully we'll be able to order soon. Course information was uploaded to the website on 27th Feb. Generally start times have been arrive between 2 & 3pm, I think in previous years.

Well done mini DD for being selected for modelling!

Mini

trumpet thanks, it is really exciting. She was chosen for a National dancewear contract for a year. I’m currently trying to negotiate with the company and NCO to try work something out

A modelling shoot sounds very exciting. If it makes you feel better they didn't all go to the easterlies first rehearsal last year though I can understand you not wanting her to miss it

Argh, when the dates were posted for regionals Northerlies didn’t start til March but now there’s a date there for February. I so don’t want her to miss the first rehearsal but she’s booked to do a modelling shoot in London. Im a bit annoyed as I checked the dates again before I booked the hotel (which is nonrefundable). But I really don’t want her to miss her first ever rehearsal

Oh yes bassclef ds will miss playing football with your ds. Not sure if trumpet will manage the whole year (he can make 2 of the first 3 then we will have to see if the rehearsals clash with AYM) - but they didnt have many trumpets last year so I think Andy the conductor was keen for him to continue if he could and he enjoyed it so we'll see how it goes. Hopefully his cello and percussion playing friends are still going.

You’re right bassclef. Have you had anything from them yet? The boy wants his hoody! I’m more interested in start times etc.

Sirius- no we're not either. The times aren't going to work this year unfortunately. DS is in Mains (as is yours I think?)
Trumpetboysmum - DS will miss hanging out with your DS this year at regionals

Are we the only ones not doing regionals?

Northerlies kids stay in the rehearsal and we can’t watch anyway. So some parents stay, others leave. The kids don’t know either way.

paulweller yey another Northerly!!

Is it expected that parents stick around for regionals rehearsals? I planned to dump and run in an effort to force her to make friends....

WindMum, great advice, thank you! Taggie you have to bring lots of changes for cakes.

Thanks windmum. I'll pass that on to DS2. He will be thrilled about the opportunity to eat lots of cake make new friends

Kutik - don't worry! They are a friendly bunch and are encouraged to meet one another at the break! My DD didn't know anyone the first year and was very nervous. She made some friends at regionals but ones from the older orchestra (she was U10s and the kids she met were U11) which didn't help at the course - we asked to share with some one from same section (wind) but in reality this wasn't necessary, her best NCO friend is a string player and they are in almost daily contact by text (as well as writing to one another too)! They were in the same dorm at U10s and last years U11s. I have no doubt the same request will go in this year for U11s.

Best advice for regionals - guide them to go off and join the other kids at break and not hang around with you. A few don't leave their parents sides at the breaks and then don't make friends. NCO supply juice and biscuits but parents bring cakes to sell for NCO funds so many kids also buy cakes too, friendships are made in the queue for cake!!!

southeasterlies here - but now rehearsals are scheduled in the afternoons, which will cause a problem with evensong.

I may ring them and see if they could possibly change us to London juniors (our second choice). Unlikely, as they will be full, but no harm in asking.

On the other hand, if the organist is willing to let DS2 miss evensong occasionally, it would be less exhausting for him to only have one major musical commitment on a Sunday.

Dilemmas....

Received! London Junior here. The email said Junior is morning (10am - 1pm), so Senior should be afternoon.

DS's friends who got in U11 turned down their places so he doesn't know anyone now. Hopefully he'll make some friends who are going to the summer together...

Wind - we havent heard yet; last year it started as late morning, and then changed to afternoon when the venue changed. We were assuming afternoon, but website now saying morning

London juniors 29th not 19th and contrary to the info on the regional orchestras page it’s 10-1 for London juniors.

String did you have afternoon times for London Seniors?

I would imagine it just takes a while for them to email everyone? They were v helpful on phone though. Yes I guess we will see some of you at south easterlies. Am
Hoping ds will meet some training orchestra people there as he is a bit wobbly about the summer too.

Email arrived. Times missing and date wrong - April 19th isn’t a Sunday. I think it should be 29th.

I haven't heard anything yet. Should I give them a call? If it's supposed to come over next few days then I hesitate to disturb them though...

We received offer of Easterlies today. We are in Shropshire! Might have to give it a miss this year.