Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

NCO 2016

108 replies

Musicmom1 · 29/09/2015 15:25

Auditions started this week so a new thread for those whose DC are auditing and anyone else interested.

Dd was in the Under 10s this year, and reserve for the Training Orchestra the year before. Auditioning twice - this week and in Oct. unfortunately our accompanist had pulled out this week but DD is ok going solo. We aren't expecting a place this year as it is seems to get harder as you go into the older orchestras but the journey has been brilliant so far and DD wouldn't consider not having a go.

Anyone else?

OP posts:
Original poster
Musicmom1 · 22/10/2015 18:03

Waffle - excellant, she should be proud of herself and hopefully all will now come good!

Super - we have been to the encore course there the last two years, but also now seen the wind and brass one. Have decided not to make any decisions until nco result, as last summer was very music heavy (encore was 11 days!) good luck to your do tomorrow.

OP posts:
baobei2006 · 23/10/2015 13:26

My Dd finished hers this morning. She was nervous forgot to vib the very 1st note of her Meditation! Sightreading was Not Allowed to be played more than required, she was told! Also the panels this year were not friendly, mummy! (last year she went for Late Audition and VERY friendly) No chatting at all, quite serious for a 9 years old! Overall she is positive, finger crossed.
Good luck to everyone!

superbaghag · 23/10/2015 17:00

All done here too. She really enjoyed herself and said no matter what they outcome she is going to audition again next year. Very happy girl still on a high.

chicafuego · 23/10/2015 17:24

Hello
I have been reading some of the posts about the NCO, as my DS auditioned for the first time this week. We didn't know what to expect and I was not sure it was a good idea, as it seems that lots of the children are at a much higher grade at a younger age. He is about Grade 5. He has lessons at school and is the only one that has progressed to grades, but I know that the NCO is a completely different thing, so I am a little worried for him.
However, he really wanted to audition and said he enjoyed it. He auditioned for the Under 11 orchestra and I was expecting the panel to speak to him, but they didn't. Is that a bad sign?
He felt it went well but we have nothing to compare it to and if everyone is Grade 6 and above he will not have a chance.

baobei2006 · 24/11/2015 09:57

Read an Old e-news on Oct NCO newsletter that this year application is hugh at least 1125 young application! A very competitive audition! nearly to Dec time waiting for the result. Finger cross..

Wafflenose · 24/11/2015 11:50

Yep, am expecting to hear in another couple of weeks. Maybe even late next week, but maybe not due to numbers involved. They say "early to mid December". Not sure that I actually want to know though...

chicafuego · 24/11/2015 15:45

As I am new to this board and new to the NCO audition process, I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on my questions/queries above. Is it normal that they didn't speak to him at all during his audition?
We weren't sure whether he should audition, as it seems that most of the players are of a very high standard (he auditioned for Under 11s) and even though he is about Grade 5 level, it looks like he would need to be higher.
thanks

Scaredofthepianoexaminer · 24/11/2015 18:04

chica I think maybe people haven't commented because it is impossible to guess what the outcome might be for your son.
I have asked DD if the panel have spoken to her at her auditions - she says she thinks the first year they asked her if she played in any orchestras/ensembles and if she enjoyed them. Subsequent years she has had a bit of a chat with them about various things as she had met at least one panel member before each time during courses.
A child having passed a certain exam isn't always a great indication of their standard of playing and certainly not of whether an audition may be successful - I think they look for a bit of a spark/enthusiasm for playing as much as anything else (as long as technically they are up to the repertoire they will be expected to play). The first time DD auditioned she got into u11's and she had not even taken an exam at all on that instrument (although she did gr7 a couple of weeks later), the panel do not judge on what exams have been passed. Don't be discouraged if you have heard other children/parents talking about higher grades.
Having said all that the standard is pretty high - more so for some instruments than others - and violin is very competitive. It is great that your son was keen to audition and that he enjoyed the process. DD loves NCO and has learned so much, so I would always encourage anyone to have a go! I will keep my fingers crossed for him as well as my DD and do come back and let us know his result Smile

Scaredofthepianoexaminer · 24/11/2015 18:31

Sorry chica - just re-read your post and no idea how I convinced myself that your DS plays violin as it doesn't say that in your post at all - what does he play?

Icouldbeknitting · 24/11/2015 19:54

chicafuego I know nothing about the NCO, it was never an option for us as DS plays a non-orchestral instrument. What I do know is that an audition is never a waste of time because like any performance the more you do it the easier it becomes. In the future there will no doubt be other auditions for other groups and the more audition experience your son has the less challenging he will find them.

It's not that long to wait now, good luck to all those of you who are waiting.

Wafflenose · 24/11/2015 20:56

Sorry I missed you before, and welcome.

Being selected for NCO is NOTHING to do with what grade they might have got to - it's all about the performance, whatever level that might be. If a child really isn't far enough along on their instrument, the NCO office will occasionally give the parents a ring and advise that it might be unrealistic to audition - they told me this. An easy piece played well usually trumps a harder piece played badly, and I have known Grade 6 players get into the oldest orchestras and Grade 8s (on the same instrument) not. I also knew a pair of twins who both got in one year, then just one of them the following year.

And most of the time, they just don't have time to chat at the auditions. I don't see why anyone might equate that with a bad outcome - the audition panel aren't the same ones who will watch and compare the videos and make the selections.

Original poster
Musicmom1 · 24/11/2015 21:38

Hello Chica - I agree with everyone else, all the panels will have had their own particular style, and grades are not the key measure. I hope you dc isn't put off auditioning again - do let us know the result

I was thinking we might hear the end of next week (same time as last year) but I guess the numbers might push it back. I hope we all get lovely feedback whatever the result

OP posts:
chicafuego · 30/11/2015 11:05

Hello.
Thanks for your comments. I understand the audition is not based on what exams you passed, I just was no sure that he was even at the right level, if the other children have reached a much higher standard.
He was also surprised they didn't say a word, as he was expecting them to either ask about his music choices or about what else he does ie orchestras or other instruments.
Well we will know soon and he has talked about auditioning for another residential orchestra if he doesn't get in. The Young National Schools Symphony Orchestra (YNSSO).
Does anyone have any experience of this orchestra?

Wafflenose · 30/11/2015 19:31

Grade 5 is completely fine. A fair few children will get in at a lower standard than that, especially on the less popular instruments. If the child isn't far enough along to bother trying out, NCO will let you know before the audition!

My daughter is pretty pleased that they don't ask any questions at the auditions!

There are people on here whose DCs have done YNSSO, but not mine...

Good luck to everyone.

chicafuego · 30/11/2015 20:43

He plays violin, so I expect it is harder to get a place, as so many play violin.
He plays the piano, but obviously that wasn't an option.

Original poster
Musicmom1 · 30/11/2015 21:18

Chica- my daughter is in the young nsso, she did the course in 2014 and was the youngest there (age 8). It was very good and she was only just reaching G5 (min level they took) and she learned a lot on the course that she hadn't done before, and the tutors really took care of her both musically and pastorally. . Came home shattered but happy. The concert was amazing and the cd. She was in it last year but we couldn't do the course, and has been given a place for 2016. She did nco under 10s last year (different instrument). Main difference is young nsso goes to 14, all in the same orchestra. Also that means the social stuff is more varied as that is a big age range to cater for on one course. There is some cross over with NCO and the music schools, but also seen as a training ground for nyo. Audition is also quite different - more informal with time spent working with the child to see how they work and respond (or at least it was like that two years ago)

So both great orchestras with some differences which probably mattered more at 8 than now. And no reason not to do both :)

OP posts:
chicafuego · 30/11/2015 21:40

Musicmom1, thanks for the information.
I didn't know about the young NSSO until after he applied for NCO. In some ways, it would have been preferable, simply because it is in July, during school time and as he will be at the end of Year 6, he won't be doing much then.
We travel when we can and have held off booking anything because the NCO residential is in the middle of August. This would change a lot for us if he got in, but I obviously wanted to give him the opportunity if it worked out.
Luckily he has time to apply if he doesn't get into the NCO. It sounds like your daughter is about the same age.
That was my worry, he is only now Grade 5 standard and that seems much lower than others of the same age. At school, all the other children that started the violin the same time as him have either given up or are about Grade 1 level. This may be normal for children having lessons at school with the local music service but, has meant he has been seen to excel in that environment, but that is very different to being up against talented musicians from around the country.
He is the Leader of the local Junior Youth Orchestra (most of the children in that orchestra are secondary school age), which he loves and I think this encouraged him to audition for the NCO.

Original poster
Musicmom1 · 30/11/2015 22:10

Chica - it doesn't sound like you need to worry - if he is strong and confident enough to lead the local youth orchestra, he is clearly talented and musical, and interested - dd's strength is always that she is very brave musically, is receptive to tutoring and the conductor, and will have a go (or pretend to 😁i think they need that for any orchestra and if he is keen (which he must be from what you say) he will benefit massively from either course. DD had only been playing instrument no 2 for under a year when she auditioned for nco last year... She had to work hard before the course, but seemed to hold her own. Doing the regionals also helped enormously

Good luck this week - DD is yr 5 so we are hoping. but not expecting, under 11s

OP posts:
chicafuego · 30/11/2015 23:01

Musicmom. Wow, she must be incredibly talented to get to that level in under a year. I think that is why I am not expecting a positive outcome. He is up against such amazing talent.
He is very keen and loves being in the orchestras that he is in. He always practises but doesn't have a lot of time because he does way too many other activities. And unfortunately myself and DH know next to nothing about music, so can't help too much.

Wafflenose · 30/11/2015 23:44

I read on another board a few years ago that the overall chance of getting in on violin is around 1 in 4. DD plays the flute, which is also super competitive (they only take a handful!) so we are looking into other options too.

Original poster
Musicmom1 · 01/12/2015 08:04

Chica - thank you but she really really isn't super talented, just loves playing music, and second instruments seem to be a lot quicker progress than first.

OP posts:
baobei2006 · 04/12/2015 12:19

Hello all, I am wondering if anyone receive any news?

freda71 · 04/12/2015 13:03

Waffle - which other options were you looking into ?

My daughter was auditioning for U13's this year but was a bit disappointed by how her audition went, so we are not holding out too much hope. We have just sent off a video audition for the National Children's String Sinfonia & National Children's Chamber Orchestra (as we live in the Channel Islands), does anyone know anything about those orchestras ? As we are not on the mainland we don't have so many options!

Original poster
Musicmom1 · 04/12/2015 13:20

No nothing here; not at all hopeful ESP as DD decided to share this morning how it really went.....which was quite funny but not a winning performance perhaps :)

OP posts:
Musicdoc · 04/12/2015 13:45

Hi, I never joined this thread but have found it today whilst awaiting NCO 2016 results. Both of my children were in NCO 2015 for the first time this year DS(10) cello in U10s and DD(8) violin in Training.
Both reauditioned - DS(10) desperately keen to get in again, DD(8) only wants to go if her best friends get in too... we were in a group of 7 that auditioned this year and no-one has heard yet - but I am closely watching this thread as I am at work and post will get delivered to home! Good luck all!