NCO 2019

Trumpet The wait is always agony! Shane there’s no alternative to it.
On the plus side it’s december now so we should find out next week .........
Wind that’s interesting.. I hope it’s somewhere with parking although if it’s full days that’s a lot of hanging about

I also heard London juniors and seniors will be at a different location, not St Paul’s in Barnes and not Highgate, but I don’t know where!

I think the plans are also for Associate members to have the own sessions/events too, but can’t remember who told me that!

4 full days is definitely do-able. I wonder if it will effect friendship forming, with less regular contact...

I didn’t know that either but would be easier to fit with travel and school stuff if 4 days so sounds good.

Oh right Windmum, I didn't know that. Thanks

Think the plans for this year are 4 full days instead of 1 a month.

Ah that's good that we can give preferences. I think all of the regionals were a distance but it's only 1 a month so I won't mind the journey.

Ds is hoping for regionals and although he really enjoyed Southeasterlies we will probably put our first choice as London juniors if he gets offered anything as the driving to the new SEasterlies venue was exhausting and he has 11+ next year. He really liked the SEasterlies conductor though and learned lots from the older kids.

Decaf I think that’s a really good idea - then I realised that there aren’t many office staff and they are probably all busy with the concert prep at the moment - so I reckon it will be after the 9th same as last year. We could also do with finding out as ds could potentially take part in something very exciting ( or go on a different music course) if he doesn’t get in so the sooner we know the better

Hi I'd like to know the result ASAP but I shouldn't hope so much. DS was a bit down that day and did not have a good start after the summer holiday. Now she seems back on track again but maybe it's too late.

And yes, like everyone else we will want hear ASAP!

We gave a first and second preference for regionals. We got allocated our first preference but I know some others got second preference. I think they try to get a reasonable balance of instruments in each regional orchestra. I think you can get in touch and discuss options with them if you are allocated one that doesn’t work for you.

I hope so too Rupertswife. That sounds amazing, to learn from the more experienced players.

If you get regionals, do you choose which regional you attend, or is it allocated?

That’s interesting Hikakin. One of the things I liked about southeasterly regionals was the seating. DS2 got to try sitting both at the front and at the back of his section, and was consistently placed next to much better players. He learnt loads! They were clearly not ordering the seating from front to back by best to worst (or DS2 would have been at the back!). A disadvantage of London juniors would be that he wouldn’t get to play with the brilliant U12, U13 and main orchestra violinists. If indeed he even gets regionals this year

owlm that’s annoying! Hopefully we will hear nice and early this year.

Maybe you could suggest that to them Decaff

Owlm that’s annoying!
We heard by email but it was no fun refreshing every few hours (minutes)
I really hope they are more organised this year. Would be great if they let the under 10s and under 11s know first since they’re not in the winter concert anyway. Then they’ll probably have less emails to send at a time..

Just saw you said we'll hear by email Doubleup.

I agree Decaf. If she's not going, there's another workshop I can sign her upto. It will be the same dates as NCO residential, But I'll miss the discount if we find out 2nd week in December.

Did you all find out via email last year? Or post?

Hopefully they will have learned from last year’s drawn out process of getting the e-mails out and we will know in two weeks. It was agony knowing that some results were out and having to wait! Not sure if constantly checking last year’s thread helped or not!

I wish I knew results already! So much easier to plan

I think the standard of London Junior is slightly lower than other regional as there aren't older ones. Also there were some questionable seating decisions. But again, it may be only me who felt this way. Kids had a great time.

We really struggled with regionals this year. They kept changing the venue, and half the time (including the concert), it was just too far. Also, there were clashes with choir. If he is successful this year, we may go for London juniors. The full days and fewer rehearsals will suit us better

Ds would love to play in London seniors we are equal distance between there and easterlies . He didn’t enjoy being the only trumpet this year . Think it might clash with AYM next year anyway