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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 2019

840 replies

stringchild · 26/09/2018 08:07

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

OP posts:
Finewine54 · 29/12/2018 22:38

Depending on the instrument, definately worth asking for London Juniors...no idea if its possible, but I've always found the office quite accomodating re: regionals if they can be.

littleladsdad · 30/12/2018 12:04

We haven't signed up for regionals either. With school & JD, ds has enough going on. Also, we are in Shropshire, he is in London and regionals are in Bristol! Grin

Decafcoffee · 30/12/2018 13:50

I’ll ring them again in January. Maybe there’ll be a space for cello in the juniors

WindMum · 30/12/2018 16:16

If anyone has the link they can see how many places are left for each instrument.

Pippap1 · 30/12/2018 16:39

Hi WindMum, I just found that you can change the last digit of the URL of Regional orchestra registration. You can try from 5131 to 5136. 5135 is London JuniorWink

Luckyfab · 30/12/2018 17:35

Hi Pippa1, are we allowed to change number and book a place in another regional orchestra?

WindMum · 30/12/2018 18:02

Good detective work!!!

We are already booked into regionals! DD has DH logged in at 11am on the day it opened!!!!

Decafcoffee · 30/12/2018 19:10

Wow!! Pippap that’s amazing!! Wish I had figured it out earlier ... Sadly cello is sold out :(

Pippap1 · 02/01/2019 14:05

Happy new year, everyone!

Hi Lucky, it’s 2nd of January now. So, it’s better to ring them.

WindMum, your DH is great! I was shocked to find out some of instrumentals had already been sold out when I logged it an hour later on the day.

Hi Decaf, sadly cello was sold out at 12 on the day at London JuniorConfused

Luckyfab · 07/01/2019 12:31

Hi, I have already paid for the regionals but checking out the dates today I realised that one rehearsal is during the half term and we already booked our holiday. Are we allowed to miss one rehearsal?

NeleusTheStatue · 07/01/2019 13:01

Hi Lucky. As far as I can remember, it's used to be that you were not supposed to miss more than two but then there were more rehearsals back then (six or so?). They've introduced the new schedule this year (only 4 and full day) so you may like to contact them and get the answer directly? I assume many of us don't know the new rules.

Luckyfab · 07/01/2019 13:44

@Neleus. I had to cancel because 2 rehearsals were crashing with holidays already booked. Why do they rehearse during the half terms? I guess it won't be only us to have other commitments already booked. Such a pity!!!

NeleusTheStatue · 07/01/2019 13:58

Same here - so no regional this year for us. Having said that school term rehearsals may be such a pain for those who have to travel a long way. Suppose it's hard to please all...

Similar case happened to attending JD. It's always on during half term so either we couldn't go away or cut the holiday short.

NeleusTheStatue · 07/01/2019 14:02

I think it's a lot better than last year. At least the dates are given so we can see whether we can take part or not in advance. Last year was a bit nightmare to be honest. We ended up missing a lot of rehearsals as we didn't know when it would happen.

bostik · 08/01/2019 14:59

Forms have to be sent back by the 11th!

Musicdoc · 22/01/2019 22:17

Hi all, I thought I'd revitalise this thread and share the news that my cello boy has been offered full membership in Main Orchestra. He was on the reserve list but we were contacted about full membership yesterday. He's over the moon as he has made great friends in the orchestra over the last 4 years so it's nice that he's back in for the final year.

busyspinning · 22/01/2019 22:24

Musicdoc Smile that’s great news !!

Musicdoc · 22/01/2019 23:18

Thanks busyspinning! Now I just need to get my head around the logistics of having a child in U12s and Main at the same time 

Luckyfab · 23/01/2019 07:15

Musicdoc, congratulations!!!!! What a wonderful news to receive in a cold January Monday Smile

ZakStarkey · 23/01/2019 07:19

Yeah- MusicDoc!! Congrats to the boy x

Doubleup · 23/01/2019 07:30

That’s great news Musicdoc! Do they have to be in different places at the same time? I haven’t looked beyond U12 dates.

ZakStarkey · 23/01/2019 08:26

I have the same with u10’s and U12’s- same day- one in Dorset, one in Lancashire..... 🤣

Musicdoc · 23/01/2019 08:26

Thanks doubleup Zak lucky
In previous years I have had 4 separate weekends in the summer taken up by dropping off/picking up from NCO.

This year the Easter courses are in Dorset in the same week, so just 2 weekends (so just need to find somewhere to stay overnight as drop off are on Sat and Sun).
And in the summer their courses are back to back, in the same place (Rossall) with a concert in Manchester - so that just takes up 3 weekends, and at least Manchester and Rossall are close.

I feel very pleased not to have had any absolute clashes... I know sometimes people have had to drop off one child in Dorset at 2pm and then watch a concert in Birmingham at 3pm... and as this is my last year of having two of them in NCO I feel I have managed to get off lightly Grin

Musicdoc · 23/01/2019 08:27

Zak I feel your pain! Private jet?

bostik · 23/01/2019 08:40

Congratulations!