Spring / Summer 2026 music thread

@Compsearch they ask if they regularly play in an orchestra of above or below 21 members I think from memory

Congrats to people through to next round of NYO - auditions sound very intense!

DS is doing his little orchestra course at guildhall this week - feeling a bit apprehensive about it as he won’t know anyone but I’m sure he’ll enjoy it once he’s there.

@678socks other than 2 x Benedetti sessions this will be the first time he’s played in an ensemble of any kind so won’t be going down as an experienced orchestral player on his NCO audition form or whatever they ask about…we still haven’t got round to doing the video as DH is away. It’s blatantly going to be a rush at the last minute!

Also even putting a video in, or getting to next round is still an achievement, even if they don't get further. You'll be heartily Sick of the pieces by September!!

Mine finally checked her phone to get her news of getting to next round, think she surprised herself! I've had one in previously so happy to answer any questions I can. The audition day has several parts, your pieces, the excerpts, group playing and some group chatting. A whole day helps them to settle into it. You definitely don't need to be super outgoing in the talking.
It's a big commitment if you get in ( time and finance), I'm sure it's about 40 days in total with inspire things and schools tours as well as the actual residentials. They need to be really organised about studying but they provide study facilities. It was great for my middle one, really developed confidence and independence.
Do impress on them the need to know the excerpts really well, and everything else that's happening around your part. Easy to do now with imslp scores or YouTube with rolling scores.
We built our holidays around residential and concert dates but it was so much fun.

We’re away a lot too and he got through. I’m now a bit ‘Do you have time to do enough music this summer owing to the amount of time you are away doing, um, music?’

Well done too, we haven’t done this before so not sure what to expect ( violin ). I didn’t think she would get through to next round and she doesn’t have a lot of time to practice and prepare as we are away on holiday and she is also doing a weeks residential last week in August!

Can I join? Well done to all those through to NYO next round. I’ve just received an email saying my DD is through to next round of NYO auditions (brass). She’s 13 and first time auditioning so quite new here. We’re currently away in a caravan in the middle of nowhere so can’t access all the clicky links about the audition itself as Dropbox seems to want Wi-Fi to open anything. For those who have done NYO before how have you found the commitment alongside school? - my DD is going into Y10 next year. I know absolutely nothing is guaranteed at this stage, but want to go into this next section of audition eyes open (honestly didn’t think she’d get a second audition).

got the email. Got through to next round only just I think, as they said her excerpts need a bit more dynamics and steady tempo throughout so not sure about next round as this is first time.

We have received now. No for us sadly.

Nothing here either via email. Should it be somewhere in the portal? DD has looked there but nothing to be seen.

Check your account. I can see but was waiting for the email to confirm. Might just have to get her to look!

Hi Sorry to jump onto this thread but is anyone waiting for NYO results today ? had nothing through seems odd as I’m sure it’s today.

No, still waiting. It should be today but
nothing yet.

Has anyone heard from NYO about first round auditions yet?

One of the most talented children we know from JD was also back desk in NCO.

Love the comments on back desk. DD was always back desk at LSSO as the conductor said he didn't trust anyone else to watch as closely. Not sure her choirmaster would have said the same.... She was also the one who was always popping up to play any weird keyboard instrument going.

Also love how they make use of their multi-instrumentalists, with various players popping over for a bit of super impressive piano playing, and one or two other more exotic combos of string instrument plus something random that was needed for a piece or two.

The leadership rotations at the weekly residentials are something I love about NCO. One concert DD's section entirely reversed order between the first half and the second half. I've think I've also spotted a section that rotated after every piece. It's fun, and it gives them the chance to experience different perspectives (and realise how much harder it actually is at the back!). Can certainly believe there is some style matching, from what DD says they try out all sorts of things over the week. She loves a bit of choreo, and has on more than one occasion found herself on front desk for those pieces :)

I agree that it wouldn't count against anyone, and actually co-leaders at NCO have very different styles, I'm not sure how NCO plan exactly but I guess they rotate to match the style of pieces (I may be wrong as I didn't pay that much attention tbh but players are VERY different).

Yes, group auditions are always better. For smaller and louder sections like trumpets or trombones one soloist type player can really stick out, not always great for a balanced sound.

That is an interesting one Uberto, but I don't think should count against either of them for orchestral auditions as they'll be given interpretation by the section tutors. I think what NYO are doing now is interesting as they will be able to really get into how well players match with a section at the in person audition days. When I did it you just had to turn up and play your solo and fiendish Derek bourgeois studies.

I think it's even more complex - we've heard two cellists playing the same piece, both played really well but one was Romanian with a Russian teacher as far as I remember, and the interpretation was entirely different. They were both 11-12 but it was already obvious.

At a music festival this year we happened to hear two players playing the same piece. One young child played it like a g5 player. Loads of promise, but she'd clearly picked a challenging for her piece. The other child if I'd closed my eyes it could have been a pro playing. Same piece. Real insight into what these audition panels may be seeing and why you shouldn't rule anyone out because they're "only playing grade x pieces".

Lower strings here but similar otherwise