NCO 2019

If you have full membership you select the instrument if you have Associate membership you select an associate ticket.

Lucky did you choose cello on the first page? I think you were supposed to just choose associate? I had to do the same for my son - the email explained things?

Hi, I applied late for Regional Orchestra and the place for cello where all gone.
I thought to register my daughter for Regional Orchestra Associate Membership
Can I do that? What is the difference apart from the price?

My DD got in to the U10 this year but quite different circumstances to Pippap1. She was 7 at audition, played grade 4 standard pieces, has 15 minute lessons termtime only (often sporadically) and practises for 15 minutes most days. No way she would have the time for 2/3 hours a day 😳.

Or Percussion 😉

I think she better start taking bassoon/tuba lessons!!

I said "poor kids" because I always think about Vanessa Mae ...

Hi I am sorry to hear that your DD did not get in.

My DD got in U10 this year. DD played previous grade 8 pieces at audition but I don’t think the grade is so important to get in. She has weekly private violin lesson but also sometimes takes international master classes since 6 years old. She practices 2/3 hours everyday but still has time to play on weekend. I have met prodigy children at international masterclass/competition and found it is more exciting for them to achieve goals, making people moved by their performance etc than playing at park. They don’t look poor but just amazing.

It may be worth for your DD to try JD in London. My DD is going to audition one of them next year.

I have DS who is a reasonably talented little violinist but I don’t think he is national level at all. He will try viola to audition NCO maybe a couple of years later or just stick to other orchestra such as Pro Corda, NSSO or local county youth orchestra. There are many options and I have heard very positive feedback about them.

Hi, thanks alot for all the useful advice, partic re: other orchestras e.g NYSO and NSSO. Anyone’s kids done these? Also, I know it’s said that grades aren’t important, but my daughter was playing grade 6 level pieces, whereas most posters on this thread had kids playing more advanced pieces. She prob just needs to get more practice and another grade under her belt and try next year! They said they would love to see her again next year, but one never knows if this is just politeness...

Hi Green, so sorry your daughter is disappointed.

DD auditioned successfully for the training orchestra last year and under 10 this year on violin. I am not sure there is a formula really. For the training orchestra she did grade 4 pieces, this year grade 6/7 pieces. I think it is less about grades than how well you play your chosen piece as musicdoc says and about how much you appear to enjoy playing. DD also plays in a Saturday orchestra in addition to school orchestra and signs up for anything she can in school in terms of ensembles, duets with other instruments (very wide experience of different pieces).

Having said that, I think it will get increasingly more difficult though, violin is very competitive and some of the children are beyond amazing.

They don't. Poor kids.

Diploma level by age 8! When do these poor kids get time to go to the park?!

Hi Green, sorry your daughter is disappointed. Each year I think they choose based on performance on the day only... so better to choose a less challenging piece but play it really well, rather than a piece that is clearly too challenging. This is from 5 years experience with two string players, who have had associate / reserve / full membership different years.
My DD auditioned for U11s 2018 on violin (G7/8 pieces) and received associate membership. This year auditioned for U12s on viola (G6/7 pieces) and violin (G7) pieces and was successful with full membership on the violin.
Maybe your daughter could try again next year.
Lots of alternatives out there though - pro-Corda, NYSO, NSSO...
Hope that helps.

Hi Green! Unfortunately Violin is one of the most competitive instruments for NCO. Auditioning for U13s you're up against kids who were playing at Diploma level by age 8 or 9. The secret to my DS's success has been to play a minority instrument so there's far less competition. Sorry that's probably not hugely helpful but moving over to Viola may be a little less competitive?

Hi everyone.

My daughter auditioned for u13’s this year but didn’t get in. Shame as she’s v talented, has never got less than distintion in any grade and I think could have really made a valuable contribution.

Can anyone recommend any courses they have sent their children on to be better able to meet the audition expectations? Is there some sort of NCO audition formula to crack here? Or have you all just “chanced it” with no prep or prior knowledge and somehow managed to get your kids in?

Is anyone willing to part with any of their secrets??

Her instrument is violin. London area.

All booked for DS.

I quite like the new arrangements for the regional. Less frequency but longer hours of each session and less gap before the concert sound more efficient. But we are leaning towards not to do it. The third rehearsal is during May half term - we are likely to be away. Also DS has school Mon to Sat from next term so we may like to keep Sunday free from any duty, though it's only 4 Sundays a year... Still undecided...

Hi Josamac, I'd contact the office after the Christmas break and see if there's space in South Westerlies. Until the responses come in they won't know how many want to be in each regional and you may be lucky and there be space. Or you might not but no harm in asking!

Yes, it says it will be in June. Just not which weekend and there is one in June when we are tied up already

Yes, it says it will be in June. Just not which weekend and there is one in June when we are tied up already

It’s a bit frustrating that we have to pay up before we know the date of the concert day. There is one weekend in June we can’t make and it would be pretty demotivating to drive over 2 hours each way to rehearse if we can’t make the concert.
Last year London juniors. This year we were hoping for S.Easterlies as grandparents in Horsham but given South Westerlies. Miles away. Much longer journe than Horsham! The girl adamant she’s going though.....!
Not sure whether to push for Horsham and ideally a date or not....?

Thanks Trumpet, found it. S Easterlies dates aren’t that much different so we will stick with London Juniors and hope being absent for one day is ok.

The pages about regionals have last year’s info on but the calendar seems to show 2019 regionals and courses:
www.nco.org.uk/calendar