NCO2020

[Stringchild]

So my last time of opening this thread - a place to share 😊

abadab you have to email Philippa - it’s in the sign up email.
The woodwind sections there will be very few spaces. For example I am reasonably sure my child was the only junior on their instrument so it then immediately was sold out when we put it in the basket. And yes, associates had the chance earlier to claim their guaranteed spots.

Thanks, I did that earlier. Not sure what our chances are like for getting another region.. East and South East would be our two best alternative options. I’m sure violin is likely to be just as popular there though!

You are so lucky to get a place for your DD! We were offered a place for u10 but I was too slow to book him a place as I didn’t realise how competitive it was! I was told violin for London juniors were sold out within minutes!

I was on the London seniors page within about 3 minutes and bagged a brass place but saw some sections sold out. are people just very quick or have some places already been booked. But by whom? Not complaining but I'm finding it really complicated and confusing!!

My DD's offer of a London Juniors place came through yesterday at 8pm but I didn't book until 11pm. She plays a shortage instrument and there is still a place left even now but the offer email didn't make it clear that the associates' reserved places would be available to those who'd been offered an age-banded place 24 hours later.

DD2 would like to know an important detail about the associates... are they allowed to buy an NCO hoodie? She's really hoping so.

We had an email specifying which regional DD has a place in. Do they reserve places for those in national orchestras then?

@SE13Mummy yes they get a hoody 😘

eroica they’re not reserved....they’re assigned but it’s fastest finger first to claim those, whereas associates places had been reserved.

Apparently, Easterlies sold out the fastest of the orchestras and London junior violin spots went immediately. We know a few now in the same disappointing position.

But yes def can a regionals hoody! It says “regional orchestra” where the nationals say u12 etc.

What's an associate? Getting more confused by the minute...

@folkmamma and @squintsoftheworldunite hoodie news has been received very happily, thank you!

There are senior violin seats in easterlies this morning.

Associate = offered regional orchestra but big national age banded

There are no violin places left in Northerlies.

Any junior violin seats in easterly/south easterly orchestras? Unable to check until I hear back from NCO..

Junior violins are sold out in Southeasterlies, sorry. There are senior violin spaces.
DD has a regionals place at Southeasterlies but her instrument was sold out within 10-15 mins of booking opening.

According to my DD's friend, associate member's availability and National member's availability are different and we are on different page to book. For example, my DD's region's Violin is full but still available on associate page.
Also, I just wonder about Junior and Senior. I thought only London has different orchestra but our region also needed to choose Junior and Senior to book and different availability.

I went on at 7pm to book northerlies and only 3 junior violin places left...we were very lucky they went so quick.

I would imagine they want a mix of Junior and Senior players in the non-London regionals so they don't end up with any sections comprising of complete novices.

Hi everyone, first time on this website, found plenty of useful and helpful information.
My 9 year old daughter just been offered a place for under 10 violin, we also reserved a place at regional orchestra(London).
Please could someone clarify what is national member? What is associate member? Many thanks!

Congrats korska'sDD :) National member means she's in one of the national age banded orchestras, in your case u10.

Some children are associate members and only get to do the regional days.

I was thinking of those of you who couldn’t get regionals places in the regional orchestra allocated. I hope you have now found alternative regionals places.

Not a chance unfortunately! Junior violins was the fastest selling instrument! I spoke to NCO however, who were great and said that more seats would be released in early January. So there’s still a chance for people to get spaces thankfully 😄

Hi there.
Does anyone know when we can order NCO hoodie? My DD would like to order one. Can we just use website "NCO shop"? Also do we all have to buy a red polo shirt and red skirt for girls? As am new, it would be great if anyone can tell us. Thank you!

From previous years experience, NCO will send an email early Jan confirming shop open for 2020 hoodies. Red skirts consigned to history. Last year, senior orchestras wore red shirts and junior orchestras red polos but recommend that you don’t order until they send the email in case dress code changes further.

Thank you Trumpetdad for your info! It's so helpful to know these things.
I will wait till we receive the email from NCO admin.
My DD saw some kids were wearing the NCO hoodie in the summer course so I can see my DD would love to have one too😊.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone🎄

Karate - the girls wore black trousers or skirts that came below the knee last year. Finding one of those was a mission! I ended up altering a much older skirt. For regionals they wore white blouses/shirts, not red. For nationals it was the red as trumpetdad said.