NCO 2017 Auditions

[stringchild]

Starting the annual thread for those who have dc auditioning this year, as audition round starts shortly. DD auditions later in october.

Great news about the offer of a place
I haven't any experience asmy ds has auditioned for the first time this year. I'm sure your best bet is to phone them up and have a chat and outline your concerns etc . I think the training orchestra is a mixture of playing singing and fun stuff so not totally overwhelming on the playing front and remember all the other children on the course will be young too . good luck and let us know how you get on and what you decide

Congratulations to all those DC who got in.

My little violinist didn't get in this year

I'm so sad for her. She played a piece that was a couple of grades above her to be honest. Her individual teacher said she thought she could manage it (but no lessons over summer), but her group teacher heard it a week before and said it was a mess we should change, but she didn't want to. She was so nervous she messed up her sight reading too. Feel like I should have told her to do an easier piece. The course leader told us after the summer course that 'she really can play' and she was only going for training again as she was one of the youngest last year. We're in London and didnt even get offered regionals. I'm dreading telling her in about 15 min...

any one know of any one who hasn't got in one year then has another to give her some hope to focus on?

String and everyone else who was offered, many congratulations, you have earned it well. And string, such a relief now with the music scholarship, she will also work to improve at school.

Monkey, hugs from here. How did she take the the news. I am sadder and more upset with the fact that my daughter doesnt know about NCO and care. She has never read or heard of NCO or know anyone goes there so she doesnt care at all(we heard of it here and thought of trying on the last registered day and registered just before midnight, so it was 2 weeks before the auditiin date). She picked up the violin and played her favourite G4 one few times last night so I thought she must be a little bit upset and/or motivated and tonight I had to nag again for 25 unfocused minutes.
We chose 2 easier pieces, however didnt practise as we thought we knew them too well, on top of it we didn't do a rehearsal with the accompanist. We got to the audition centre late and went straight to it and managed to be out of tune for a piece which hasnt happened for 3 months. Do even with pieces lower grade than her actual play we still managed to mess them up. We just never know I think. Lets learn the lesson and try again next year. Its ok to fail something (hard to get). I reckon it will always be harder once they grow older as its more competitive and especially we havent been in it before though.

Hi Autumnowls my little one got offered a place for the under 10s a couple of years ago and I was really worried we even booked a caravan site next door so if she got stressed and out of her depth we could pick her up and take her to the rehearsals I was unbelievably worried. The NCO staff are absolutely fantastic with all the kids and she loved the experience and wished it was longer it was me that was in bits every day worrying she had a ball. To put your mind at rest you could contact the office then get accommodation next to the concert venue just in case but if I were you I'd let your little one just go for it.

Thanks for your kind words Green. Actually she took it better than me (though I made sure I had my positive fice on for her). She's very resilient, but doesn't always process/recognise her emotions quickly, so she may just be moody in a few days. Your right about learning to fail being OK. I have to remember that's actually why whe started doing music festivals and to an extent NCO, so that she would get some perspective being around other very accomplished kids. I guess she's just been lucy so far as she's always won something (though not always first for sure). I wanted to learn to deal with disappointment and not being the best now, not for it to floor her later (at uni or whatever) when the stakes are higher. Just hurt for them when it does. My sister has been unexpectedly very ill in hospital for a month and just got out, so I think the emotional stress has just got muddled up for me a bit. It all be worth it if she agrees to slow down and listen to instructions a bit more (at least for a bit)

Autumnowls my daughter was 8 the week before the summer course last year. She may have some ASD traits along with sensory issues, hers are mostly sensory seeking, though she can get overwhelmed too. I called them for advice and they said they were used to unusual kids and asked me to write an outline of her issues which was given to the relevant course staff. They were excellent with her (far better than her school was that year) and though a little homesick she had a lovely time. I hope your girl has a great experience this year.

Just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear that some of you didn't get places yesterday, it sounds like you're all handling it brilliantly. Many congrats to those who did. Music exam for us today (a different instrument to the NCO one) - the stress is neverending!

Autumn - as others have said the pastoral care is brilliant; we have done a few other courses, i would put NCO on top. I think its partly because everyone is roughly the same age on each course and therefore care/activities is very tailored to the age group. The Training Orchestra is much smaller than the others, as strings only, so can be even more tailored. I would def talk to them. Also doing the regionals helped us when dd was younger as the residential was just an extension of that environment, even if they weren't all the same children.

Thanks, stringchild. We are so happy, and we tought he couldn't got place.

I'm sorry to hear that some of you didn't get in yesterday. I received audition reports and read carefully, it's definitely will help kids to improve theirs current standards.

Hi everyone!! Super excited that DD got onto the reserve list for U10's and will be joining South Easterlies regional orchestra (really not expected!!) - but my burning question is, does she qualify to wear a hoodie??

I'm sure she does !

Hi folkmamma, that's NCO snap. DD on Reserve list for u10 plus southeasterties orchestra. Which instrument does your DD do? We are still contemplating whether it is worth the drive.

Hi JennyViolin - she plays violin. Her best friend is in the same boat too. We will be doing a 3hr round trip but I'm sure it will be worth it. I'm very over excited 😂

Oh we're going to make a three hour round trip to the regionals too ds really wants to go and I can go shopping in Cambridge. as we live no where near either of the residential courses I'm also thinking of booking holidays close by for the rest of the family dd is quite excited about her holiday in Dorset without ds!!

Well, DD didn't make it this time
Not even regionals. Feedback seems okay, so not sure what went wrong, other than lack of practice due to other commitments perhaps.
She got all the schools she went for, so some consolation.
We haven't told her yet, as she's exhausted as always at end of term, and has a big concert next week.

Sorry to hear that Eroica that's hard when they've already been on a course I really feel for you.

We are still waiting for the letter my little one is pestering me everyday.

I can't remember if I said on here, but my 9 year old clarinet pupil got into Under 10s!

Best of luck for some happy post today, Nicky.

Hi waffle that's fanatic well done to your clarinet pupil. My flute pupil got on the reserve list for U12s and offered regionals which I'm really pleased about.

My poor daughter is on tender hooks still waiting for both results. 😩😩😩😩😩

Well done to all those who got in! I need a reminder to look into this next year!

Any news yet NickyBella? We're all on tender hooks too!

Hi folkmamma thanks for asking no news as yet I rang the nco office the lady was really nice, my little ones letter has been held back so I've been nervously opening the mailbox every day this week expecting the letter to appear, I'm going to ring again on Monday if there is still no news in case it's got lost in the Christmas post. 😫😫😫

Aargh, I have been checking in every day just in case! I can't believe you still don't have it. Fingers crossed for tomorrow or Saturday.

Oh my goodness the stress....finally, we had our letter today and then DD would not open it for fear of what it held....after days of texting/Instagram etc etc between her and friends since Winter concert about who is in and who is not.... thankfully she got into Main Orchestra and drama is over for now. Well done every one and for me now.

Any news NickyBella ? Hope the letter hasn't got lost.

Hi bassclef unfortunately no I'm guessing it has been mislaid in the Christmas post 😫😫😫😫 we live in the sticks so it's normal for our mail to go astray from time to time. the nco have been really good and are going to send a copy out after Christmas for us. Well done to your DD the under 13s looks very exciting. Hope you have a good Christmas and new year. I will post as soon as I get the letter in my hands and let you know. I'll keep rushing to the post box every day this week just in case

What a nightmare I really hope you hear soon.