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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 (continued)

286 replies

TrumpetVoluntary · 26/12/2017 21:09

Hi
I thought I would start a new thread as the other one must be nearly full and I might have lots of questions as it is our first time!
My DD is in the U10s for 2018 and hopefully also in South Easterlies. I told my parents about her getting a place and they would like to come to her concert if possible (I understand that this is 11am on 19 August at Port Regis school) or have volunteered to look after my younger children instead if needed. Given my parents get booked up months in advance (they have a very active social life!) and Port Regis isn’t particularly near where we live so we might end up booking accommodation, then I wondered if anyone could let me know how this works:

  • do we get a limited number of tickets? I assume there must be some kind of limit.
  • would the concert be suitable for children (my younger DC will be 7 and 5 by then)?
Thanks very much.
OP posts:
WindMum · 21/01/2018 22:31

Thanks! Which orchestra? We were hoping for London juniors (already been in London juniors for 2 years)

WindMum · 21/01/2018 22:36

No email in the junk - have emailed the office!

Paulweller11 · 22/01/2018 06:19

Northerlies here x

Radiodependent · 22/01/2018 06:49

Still waiting for an email confirmation although we know which one from the phone call. Or will we not get anything further? Would be good to know exact times/venue soon for logistics! I guess they just have so many people to juggle.

TaggieOHara · 22/01/2018 09:42

Nothing here on regionals either - although like Radio, I know which we will be doing from a conversation with the NCO on another matter.

WindMum · 22/01/2018 10:06

Emails coming out today I'm told - we have been allocated London Juniors (just phoned as we needed to know!) - excellent news as her friends also go to London Juniors!

Radio - times and venues for the first 3 rehearsals are on the NCO website - go to EVENTS and then Regional rehearsals

www.nco.org.uk/calendar/143

WindMum · 22/01/2018 10:13

Just checked and times have gone again - I think London Juniors is now the afternoon though?

WindMum · 22/01/2018 10:15

London Juniors now seems to have swapped times with London Seniors

NCO 2018 (continued)
stringchild · 22/01/2018 10:40

Wind - well spotted! actually i think mornings work better for us, so hope that is right

TRL - dd did london seniors last year, and juniors three years before. Thank you for the offer. Will look out for you assuming we get london again

Radiodependent · 22/01/2018 11:22

Yep, email now come through. Southeasterlies seems to be morning initially but then afternoons from second rehearsal onwards. Sad that we had to switch from London junior as it’s much nearer to us but two of the dates were difficult so it had to be done.

WindMum · 22/01/2018 11:37

We are closer to Southeasterlies but initially when my DD joined NCO in 2016 the rehearsal venue was out in Berkshire - much further away so went for London Juniors (which we can also get to by train if necessary). She now has really good friends in London Juniors so won't change unless we have to.

littleladsdad · 22/01/2018 11:52

We received offer of Easterlies today. We are in Shropshire! Might have to give it a miss this year.

Kutik73 · 22/01/2018 12:10

I haven't heard anything yet. Should I give them a call? If it's supposed to come over next few days then I hesitate to disturb them though...

Original poster
TrumpetVoluntary · 22/01/2018 12:13

DD has got South Easterlies so hope to see some of you there. She is particularly keen to meet some other U10s before the course in the summer so hopefully will make some U10 friends there.

OP posts:
WindMum · 22/01/2018 12:28

Email arrived. Times missing and date wrong - April 19th isn’t a Sunday. I think it should be 29th.Shock

Radiodependent · 22/01/2018 12:32

I would imagine it just takes a while for them to email everyone? They were v helpful on phone though. Yes I guess we will see some of you at south easterlies. Am
Hoping ds will meet some training orchestra people there as he is a bit wobbly about the summer too.

WindMum · 22/01/2018 12:38

London juniors 29th not 19th and contrary to the info on the regional orchestras page it’s 10-1 for London juniors.

String did you have afternoon times for London Seniors?

stringchild · 22/01/2018 12:44

Wind - we havent heard yet; last year it started as late morning, and then changed to afternoon when the venue changed. We were assuming afternoon, but website now saying morning

Kutik73 · 22/01/2018 12:57

Received! London Junior here. The email said Junior is morning (10am - 1pm), so Senior should be afternoon.

DS's friends who got in U11 turned down their places so he doesn't know anyone now. Hopefully he'll make some friends who are going to the summer together...

TaggieOHara · 22/01/2018 14:00

southeasterlies here - but now rehearsals are scheduled in the afternoons, which will cause a problem with evensong.

I may ring them and see if they could possibly change us to London juniors (our second choice). Unlikely, as they will be full, but no harm in asking.

On the other hand, if the organist is willing to let DS2 miss evensong occasionally, it would be less exhausting for him to only have one major musical commitment on a Sunday.

Dilemmas....

WindMum · 22/01/2018 15:46

Kutik - don't worry! They are a friendly bunch and are encouraged to meet one another at the break! My DD didn't know anyone the first year and was very nervous. She made some friends at regionals but ones from the older orchestra (she was U10s and the kids she met were U11) which didn't help at the course - we asked to share with some one from same section (wind) but in reality this wasn't necessary, her best NCO friend is a string player and they are in almost daily contact by text (as well as writing to one another too)! They were in the same dorm at U10s and last years U11s. I have no doubt the same request will go in this year for U11s.

Best advice for regionals - guide them to go off and join the other kids at break and not hang around with you. A few don't leave their parents sides at the breaks and then don't make friends. NCO supply juice and biscuits but parents bring cakes to sell for NCO funds so many kids also buy cakes too, friendships are made in the queue for cake!!!

TaggieOHara · 22/01/2018 15:52

Thanks windmum. I'll pass that on to DS2. He will be thrilled about the opportunity to eat lots of cake make new friends Smile

Kutik73 · 22/01/2018 16:11

WindMum, great advice, thank you! Taggie you have to bring lots of changes for cakes. Grin

Original poster
TrumpetVoluntary · 22/01/2018 20:20

Sounds good about the cake! DD has suddenly got nervous about regionals and asked if I could find a south Easterlies person for her to email before they meet. If they could also be a girl in the U10s then even better. Does anyone’s DC want to email or meet? Thanks.

OP posts:
Minimusiciansmama · 22/01/2018 21:09

paulweller yey another Northerly!!

Is it expected that parents stick around for regionals rehearsals? I planned to dump and run in an effort to force her to make friends....