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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

NCO 2018

991 replies

stringchild · 23/08/2017 19:07

The new annual thread for those interested and/or auditioning! Ask questions, update your news - lots of nco parents on board and those hoping to be :)

OP posts:
Doubleup · 12/12/2017 19:52

So would DD WindMum. Fingers crossed...

Minimusiciansmama · 12/12/2017 21:09

Hi josamac! Welcome! Hope your wait is over soon xx

littleladsdad · 12/12/2017 21:25

DS has had a very good year, winning a place at Conservatoire and more recently a place at one of the UK’s 4 specialist music schools for Sept 18. Still waiting to hear about U13 Orch but strangely less confident than I have been about the other things. Hopefully tomorrow will bring news...

TrumpetVoluntary · 12/12/2017 21:39

Well done to all the children who have got regionals!
Still no news here but hopefully the wait will be over for us and for others on this list soon.

dontbutme · 12/12/2017 22:31

I'm confused - first time for us. Does one audition for NCO and then get either nothing or regionals or reserves or whatever? Or do you have to specify that you are auditioning for regionals rather than / in addition to NCO?

Musicdoc · 12/12/2017 22:37

dontbutme it is just one audition, and the outcome is one of four:
Unsuccessful / regional (associate) regional plus reserve for residential / full membership (residential plus regional)

folkmamma · 12/12/2017 22:39

Don't- it's the same audition for everyone, the panel decide whether to award a place in one of the age banded orchestras (full membership), associate membership/regionals (with or without being on the reserve list for the appropriate age banded orchestra), or no place. X

Minimusiciansmama · 13/12/2017 06:41

Thinking of you all today- I hope it brings a day of some full "yes" emails to reward your extra tormented email refreshing!

Trumpetboysmum · 13/12/2017 06:53

Thank you mini with this and ds's panic about his performance next week last night I just feel frazzled rather than looking forward to the end of term

CoffeeTeaChocholate · 13/12/2017 08:01

Good luck today everyone! This is such a stressful time of year without this nerve wrecking wait. x

Refresh, refresh, refresh....argh!!!!

Doubleup · 13/12/2017 08:13

I have a team meeting at work today - so at least 3 hours when I can’t check e-mails. Maybe that’s a good thing?

Musicdoc · 13/12/2017 08:18

All this waiting is very difficult... I wish I had a busy day but today I have got plenty of opportunity to keep refreshing my email Confused
My DD is a bit disappointed having made associate this year.... it's an amazing achievement but after 3 years of a residential she was looking forward to seeing her friends again...! Now just waiting for DS's email.

Totalshambles · 13/12/2017 08:29

Hi everyone just found this thread when searching for info about results. Very frustrating time!! Nice to know I am not the only one frenziedly checking email. I am not sure I understand why the system doesn't allow all responses to go out together - this waiting and speculating does seem unnecessarily mean?

TaggieOHara · 13/12/2017 08:35

Good luck today everyone. Let's hope the upward 'pattern' continues.

Mini - just spotted that your DD got an associate place. How fantastic, especially considering she was competing against children up to two years older than her. Well done! Flowers. By the time she finishes in U10s in 2/3 years time, she will probably have a scholarship!

Having slept on it, I have now got over my disappointment about the U10s. DS2 did so well, especially as he has very little practice time during term (20 minutes three times a week). He has also done virtually no sight reading as he hasn't taken an exam and we haven't prioritised it in his limited time. He has come a long way. This time last year, he was playing grade 1 pieces, and now he has really discovered his love of the violin. Onwards and upwards!

Josamac · 13/12/2017 08:37

Also repeatedly refreshing emails today. Google on in the background at work...
I’ve promised my girl I won’t tell anyone so if I hear then this forum is the only sharing I can do. Not optimistic though....

violinistmum · 13/12/2017 08:40

Reserves in Training Orchestra and regionals for my musical mini. We received the email yesterday afternoon, but I had to go out late afternoon & evening so didn't see it for hours after all that waiting during the day! What are the chances of getting into Nationals when on the reserve list? Is it only a very lucky few? Does anyone know how long reserve lists usually are? I'm wondering if there are a couple, a handful, or 50 children in front of my ds. I'm glad of his result, but am not sure whether the wait is over yet or not!

marmadukehussey · 13/12/2017 08:42

Huge well done, Musicdoc's DD - it is an amazing achievement. Still waiting here also after one result yesterday...

Totalshambles, I know what you mean, but I imagine the paperwork that comes with the emails still means the process is a bit of a nightmare: letter, plus scanned copy of the comments etc.

I know what it's like trying to send one reasonably sized email to a handful of recipients!

To do well over a 1,000 with attachments, and make sure they get all the right details, and deal with bouncebacks - I can only imagine. (Wincing at the thought of it!)

FWIW I much prefer this way to the letter system.

Good luck to everyone still waiting and well done to everyone else so far :-)

violinistmum · 13/12/2017 08:46

Congratulations Minimusiciansmama! A great result! What instrument does your little one play?

Musicdoc · 13/12/2017 08:59

Well done violinistsmum
My DD, DS and DD's friend were all reserved last year (U10s and u12s) and they all got in. We found out in May/June last year so a little bit of notice but can still play havoc with holiday planning!

Original poster
stringchild · 13/12/2017 09:00

Violin - I don’t think they are long but also know some years reserves aren’t called and other times they are. Sorry that doesn’t help but it really is good news to be a reserve.

Looks like full places start today then given some sort of pattern has emerged....but imagine there are non fill offered to be sent too still

OP posts:
Nigglenotes · 13/12/2017 09:09

Today should be full offer day! Good luck everyone.

folkmamma · 13/12/2017 09:14

We were on the Reserve list last year and also DD BFF - neither was called up. However, Regionals were so great we all forgot about that!

Good luck to everyone waiting for news today. BFF also still waiting for news, so I am just as nervous as yesterday, keeping everything crossed! Smile

Wafflenose · 13/12/2017 09:19

We are definitely due a 'no' today or tomorrow, regardless of what else we might get, because Rara can't play clarinet and cello at the same time...! 2 kids, 3 auditions.

Luckily, I have performances at 3 schools today, and all-day rehearsals, so I won't be about much.

Original poster
stringchild · 13/12/2017 09:22

Waffle - when things were posted it was both instruments in one letter so I assume it will be one email for both instruments whatever the content.

OP posts:
Kutik73 · 13/12/2017 09:50

Hello everyone! I've just managed to read all - I was a bit overwhelmed yesterday by the speed of this thread's fast movement... Well done to all of you who took part of this challenge - such an achievement no matter the outcome.

Taggie, you sound rather disappointed by the result. But didn't the message from NCO say that your DS was placed on the reserve list because his performance was met their standard? My DS was on the reserve last year and that's what the letter said. It's just that the competition was just so insane. You must be incredibly proud of your little chap to have reached their standard, you know? I was, last year. Like yours, my DS was painfully inexperienced (first ever audition, no exam experience, no violin outside school). I remember we were jumping around with a joy by the news.

DS didn't get called for the summer camp in the end, but he absolutely enjoyed and loved the regional. In fact, he probably wants to go back to the regional and is not thinking of the residential as an option. Enjoy the regional, he will love it.