NCO 2019

Forms have to be sent back by the 11th!

I think it's a lot better than last year. At least the dates are given so we can see whether we can take part or not in advance. Last year was a bit nightmare to be honest. We ended up missing a lot of rehearsals as we didn't know when it would happen.

Same here - so no regional this year for us. Having said that school term rehearsals may be such a pain for those who have to travel a long way. Suppose it's hard to please all...

Similar case happened to attending JD. It's always on during half term so either we couldn't go away or cut the holiday short.

@Neleus. I had to cancel because 2 rehearsals were crashing with holidays already booked. Why do they rehearse during the half terms? I guess it won't be only us to have other commitments already booked. Such a pity!!!

Hi Lucky. As far as I can remember, it's used to be that you were not supposed to miss more than two but then there were more rehearsals back then (six or so?). They've introduced the new schedule this year (only 4 and full day) so you may like to contact them and get the answer directly? I assume many of us don't know the new rules.

Hi, I have already paid for the regionals but checking out the dates today I realised that one rehearsal is during the half term and we already booked our holiday. Are we allowed to miss one rehearsal?

Happy new year, everyone!

Hi Lucky, it’s 2nd of January now. So, it’s better to ring them.

WindMum, your DH is great! I was shocked to find out some of instrumentals had already been sold out when I logged it an hour later on the day.

Hi Decaf, sadly cello was sold out at 12 on the day at London Junior

Wow!! Pippap that’s amazing!! Wish I had figured it out earlier ... Sadly cello is sold out :(

Good detective work!!!

We are already booked into regionals! DD has DH logged in at 11am on the day it opened!!!!

Hi Pippa1, are we allowed to change number and book a place in another regional orchestra?

Hi WindMum, I just found that you can change the last digit of the URL of Regional orchestra registration. You can try from 5131 to 5136. 5135 is London Junior

If anyone has the link they can see how many places are left for each instrument.

I’ll ring them again in January. Maybe there’ll be a space for cello in the juniors

We haven't signed up for regionals either. With school & JD, ds has enough going on. Also, we are in Shropshire, he is in London and regionals are in Bristol!

Depending on the instrument, definately worth asking for London Juniors...no idea if its possible, but I've always found the office quite accomodating re: regionals if they can be.

Haven’t signed up for regionals here. We didn’t get London juniors and all the others are too far.

We're struggling with the whole regionals aspect this year. (Full member, 4th year in)
Our problem is that such a limited set of dates removes flexibility from the process. We have a clash with the residential NYO Inspire weekend on the first date, in the same area, then three other dates, including the concert, conflict with the Youth Orchestra as they only meet for four weekends a term. Two of DS's friends, in the same section, also have similar scenarios with different youth orchestras. Ten half days (or thereabouts) gave some opportunity for compromise e.g half a day at one, then dash to NCO, but only four whole days will not be so easy to negotiate. Also, paying upfront is less user friendly compared to a monthly fee and the actual rehearsal time, from 11.00 to 4.00, is not that much longer than 1.00 to 4.30 once you have factored in breaks and lunch. It seems such a shame that in this format it will be over by the middle of the year as it was that sustained rehearsal project over time that bonded the orchestra and allowed friendships to develop. I can see that the NCO are obviously trying to formalise and regulate their regional outreach but the older players are going to find it very difficult to juggle everything and it would be an awful shame if the experience they bring is no longer viable.

Hopefully there will be some rejigging when the office opens in January so that you can get a place. For South Easterlies, flute, clarinet, trumpet and bassoon are full but the others are showing places, so if different instruments are full in different orchestras then there might be some chances to switch. Also, as WindMum says, there may be some reallocation of associates places if they aren’t all taken up. Fingers crossed for both of you!

Just to add that I logged in at 1140 on release day for regional membership for my daughter on an instrument place to see that her instrument was sold out too! 40 minutes after it opened! So luckyfab, you are not alone. I also will be calling the office to see if anything can be done. She is very disappointed and I am kicking myself for not being ready at 1100. I had no idea that there would be such demand, and had assumed that as long as I did it in the morning she would get a place.

Maybe if Associate don’t take up places they will release them to full members? Currently there are 13 associate places left in our orchestra and only 3 instruments sold out.

There should be an option to add your name to a waiting list. We won't be able to do LDN seniors this year as we have other concerts on two of the three dates. So that's that is one space free.

Lucky - that sounds very frustrating. The places seem to have gone very quickly for some instruments. Hopefully there will be spaces in another regional orchestra.

Thanks Stringchild I will call them on the 2nd Jan. when the Nco office will open.

Windmum ok this means that being the cello membership sold out my daughter is out from the regionals then? such a pity!!!