NCO 2019

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Traditionally for many years MN has had an audition thread; so here it is as the auditions start in a few days 😀

Oh dear, ds’s Desk partner from last year didn’t get full membership. Not sure how to tell him as they were room mates last summer and were hoping to be again...

Congrats to all those who got in and hugs to those that didn’t! Next year audition opens in a few months and always worth trying again. Ds didn’t get in first time round and neither did my dd.

Any one know where under 10s are going for the residential? Any one have any experience?

Hi Radio, I m new here and my Dd was offered a place for cello U11just yesterday and for us it is the first time.
What do you mean with full membership?
I received a standard email saying "congratulations " but nothing else.

I think U10 is at Port Regis School in Dorset Decaf. DD has been there twice and loved it.

Full membership is a place in one of the age band orchestras Lucky. Congrats to your DD!

I thought the U10 and U11 residentials were at Port Regis school in Dorset.
Well done to the year 5 harpist who is joining U11s - amazing achievement! And congratulations to others with good news and hope those DC who didn’t get in this time aren’t too upset and find some other exciting musical opportunities.

mimu, congratulations to your DD. What a great achievement it is!

Congratulations to whom received good news and warm hugs to others.

Lucky fab full membership is summer course and option to do regionals if you want and associate membership is regionals only, though I think there is a waiting list for the summer courses too.

My DD didn't get in. It was her first audition but, frankly, I'm very surprised, as is her teacher. DD was very, very upset but has recovered herself and is taking their feedback on board. She wants to audition again next year. I'd rather suck lemons.

@Brasstacks Sorry your DD didn't get in. I hope she finds plenty of other opportunities to play with other people. I think there is a pretty good moderation process of the auditions. Regarding your "surprise": have you looked at the reported grade ranges by instrument and orchestra on this page (you need to click on the orchestra name) www.nco.org.uk/join-in/can-i-join-nco-?If your DD is at the top of these ranges for her instrument, then perhaps surprise is the right response. I suspect those at the lower end had fantastic auditions in order to make it. Even then, those at the higher ends can struggle if their sight-reading skills are not so hot, or if they make a few errors in the pieces. The standard is just really, really high. Even thinking about auditioning means that your DD is doing awesomely well.

Thanks moralvictor. She is g5/6 standard, not yet 8.5, exceptionally musical and I could hear most of her audition (which was unaccompanied). The feedback is certainly valid and her attitude to it is very constructive, but I still find it surprising.

Thank you for the kind wishes which are reciprocated and very best of luck to those waiting to have a go again - which they will all have to anyway. Very hard for those who were in before and are now not. Good luck to those still waiting to hear

Has anyone heard back from the U13s? We're waiting on Violin.

meetthewildes if it’s anything like U12, you might be hearing at about 10.30pm tonight!

Hi Tea - just wanted to say, that not all of the kids in NCO are at music school or have access to specialist training - DD and her BFF have both had a combination of associates / full membership in the last two years and they both go to regular schools and have just had regular private lessons up until recently. My DD has now gone on to JD, but I would say that has been a consequence of her involvement with NCO and other high level organisations which have accelerated her rate of development to a point where she could then access more specialist training. It's certainly not convenient - we have to travel 2.5 hours each way and we've had to forgo holidays and other luxuries to be able to afford it. There is actually quite a lot of funding out there in terms of bursaries, although we are in the 'squeezed middle' and don't qualify for it so have had to find other ways of funding it. But I know many families who get pretty much full funding because of their circumstances. For the very gifted, there are also scholarships (again, not us!!). Not 'having a go', just trying to give reassurance that these 'elite' organisations are accessible, but it admittedly takes a certain amount of tenacity to get there sometimes.

Don't give up - they obviously saw something in your DC to send the 'non-standard' reply. I do think they had a lot of violinists audition this year. And I know many of this year's U12 violinists from previous years and other courses - it's genuinely a particularly competitive year group. My DD has recently picked up viola and we will be trying on that from now on as the odds are much better!

Folkmamma, as mum of a U11 viola player I would agree. Talented though my girl is I suspect she wouldn’t have got in on the violin. She loves the viola though and it’s richer sound. Lovely instrument.
Good luck - I was amazed how fast the transition across was when my DD changed 2 years ago.

Hi Josamac! yes, it's amazing how fast they make the transition isn't it!? She's had it since Easter and is already not far behind where she is on violin!

Tea as folk says, there is quite a lot of financial support available for young musicians. This website seems like a good place to begin.

www.helpmusicians.org.uk/get-advice/funding-careers/young-musicians-under-18/young-musicians-under-18

I totally understand the disappointment - it's really tough! But, do explore other opportunities - missing out on a full place turned out to be a massive blessing in disguise for us last year.

Hi all. Just popped on to see whether results were starting to come in as was getting impatient refreshing emails! Have enjoyed catching up on everyone's news - congratulations to all with places and for those without it is so definitely worth trying again. teabiscuit22 we are also from the North East and DS (cello) has had 4 fantastic years in U10s, 11s, 12s and 13s - we're currently nervously awaiting Mains results. In his age band there has always been a little group from the NE/N Yorks - small compared to the numbers from other areas, but there all the same - and I imagine it is the same in the other age bands. DS attends state school and whilst he has private cello lessons, does not attend a JD. We've managed to find fantastic teaching and opportunities for orchestral playing in the NE. Is your DC playing in an orchestra locally or involved in any of the Sage programme? Do feel free to PM me if I can help point you in the direction of any of the opportunities which we have found up here. Good luck to all still awaiting results! (returns to nervously refreshing emails)

It's been a long nervous wait but I received an email 10 mins ago that my DD has been offered a place in U12s on the violin. This is quite a surprise after being in for Training x2 and U10s, as she was only offered an asociate place last year. She was desperate to get back in, so picked up the viola in June this year and auditioned on both instruments. We were expecting a viola place (if any) but has been offered a violin place. Hope this offers some hope to those who are thinking of not reauditioning - although I agree there are lots of wonderful opportunities to play out there outside of NCO. My children enjoy the social aspect of music mostly - and are both adamant they won't become professional musicians. Like threefun I am now awaiting Mains results for my DS cello.

Congrats Musicdoc! Not what you were expecting!

Fantastic MusicDoc- My dd will be pleased!