NCO 2019

meetthewildes if it’s anything like U12, you might be hearing at about 10.30pm tonight!

Has anyone heard back from the U13s? We're waiting on Violin.

Thank you for the kind wishes which are reciprocated and very best of luck to those waiting to have a go again - which they will all have to anyway. Very hard for those who were in before and are now not. Good luck to those still waiting to hear

Thanks moralvictor. She is g5/6 standard, not yet 8.5, exceptionally musical and I could hear most of her audition (which was unaccompanied). The feedback is certainly valid and her attitude to it is very constructive, but I still find it surprising.

@Brasstacks Sorry your DD didn't get in. I hope she finds plenty of other opportunities to play with other people. I think there is a pretty good moderation process of the auditions. Regarding your "surprise": have you looked at the reported grade ranges by instrument and orchestra on this page (you need to click on the orchestra name) www.nco.org.uk/join-in/can-i-join-nco-?If your DD is at the top of these ranges for her instrument, then perhaps surprise is the right response. I suspect those at the lower end had fantastic auditions in order to make it. Even then, those at the higher ends can struggle if their sight-reading skills are not so hot, or if they make a few errors in the pieces. The standard is just really, really high. Even thinking about auditioning means that your DD is doing awesomely well.

My DD didn't get in. It was her first audition but, frankly, I'm very surprised, as is her teacher. DD was very, very upset but has recovered herself and is taking their feedback on board. She wants to audition again next year. I'd rather suck lemons.

Lucky fab full membership is summer course and option to do regionals if you want and associate membership is regionals only, though I think there is a waiting list for the summer courses too.

mimu, congratulations to your DD. What a great achievement it is!

Congratulations to whom received good news and warm hugs to others.

I thought the U10 and U11 residentials were at Port Regis school in Dorset.
Well done to the year 5 harpist who is joining U11s - amazing achievement! And congratulations to others with good news and hope those DC who didn’t get in this time aren’t too upset and find some other exciting musical opportunities.

Full membership is a place in one of the age band orchestras Lucky. Congrats to your DD!

I think U10 is at Port Regis School in Dorset Decaf. DD has been there twice and loved it.

Hi Radio, I m new here and my Dd was offered a place for cello U11just yesterday and for us it is the first time.
What do you mean with full membership?
I received a standard email saying "congratulations " but nothing else.

Congrats to all those who got in and hugs to those that didn’t! Next year audition opens in a few months and always worth trying again. Ds didn’t get in first time round and neither did my dd.

Any one know where under 10s are going for the residential? Any one have any experience?

Oh dear, ds’s Desk partner from last year didn’t get full membership. Not sure how to tell him as they were room mates last summer and were hoping to be again...

My DS got a standard rejection.... but he really was chancing his arm applying- he hasn't done any grades, and clarinet is v much his second instrument (he was actually going to stop in summer them changed his mind).

We visited Stonehenge on the way back from Port Regis (only time we've ever been down that area) and my children say it was the best place they've ever been to!

One of my little pupils got a no. She played well and then messed up the sight reading!

Fingers crossed for all of us waiting to hear today - I guess it could be a very long day !! another nativity play to go for me first before we hear I think

‘Non standard’ rejection letter for us too... has anyone had a standard one? Is non standard letter for children that have previously been accepted and haven’t got in this year? Also no mention of regionals.. ..

If any of you do decide to holiday in Dorset while they are at Port Regis and need some tips then happy to try to help with ideas etc. We adore living in Dorset.
Amazing mimu for your harpist. Makes all the effort worth it. For both her and mum!

Ah thanks Trumpetboysmum- she is thrilled- not least because we all saw the audition as just being an experience in itself and did not expect to get anywhere first shot. So lovely for her to be with some other harpists too as well as a big bunch of music mad youngsters.

Port Regis is indeed lovely . In fact the whole of Dorset is - we have had a lovely couple of holidays after dropping ds off there ( it’s a long way from our house !!)
Oh and fantastic news for the little harp player who has made it into Under 11s from what you had described I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to be a no

Great results for some and a big hug to those who didn’t get in this time - but it really is worth trying again
I think the non standard email will be something to do with them wanting to say that you really are almost there and played really well - and please definitely reaudition next year if you got one of these !! So much can happen in a year anyway - it’s always worth having another shot .
They are all doing amazingly well to even be anywhere close to the standard - it’s so far above the norm and sometimes I think surrounded by our very musical children it’s easy to forget that

Just catching up on this and can’t believe how late some of you heard!
Congratulations to all who are in. And ‘don’t give up’ to those who didn’t.
I was amazed at the standard last year, there are some talented children out there!
Hope to meet some of you at the U11’s in the summer. For those new to it Port Regis is a lovely place. It’s near us so we know it anyway, but lots of space, nice dorms and a gorgeous setting. Lucky lucky (hard working) kids.