NCO 2026

[Wishfulmasterchef]

Is now the right time to start the conversation? NCO 2026 audition results?

I think they said Oct / Nov on the submission so probably around 5-6 weeks too early for results, but maybe not too early to discuss!

Yep I saw last years post and looks like results are around end of Oct time. I did see my child’s video have got a few views since August so assuming they are in the process. Fingers crossed and good luck to all the children.

What age group is your child? We submitted an audition video for dd U12s. Never done anything like this before and she wasn’t super prepared but it was fun to do shoot the video, even if just something to look back on in years to come to see how cute she was! Not sure how many views were already on her YouTube recording just from me double-checking it was working so can’t tell if the adjudication process has started yet.

Hi my child is under 12 too , we applied for the residential week. It is our first time applying for NCO too. We were at that time preparing for exam so the teacher at school kindly arranged to shoot the video for him.

I was intrigued whether it’s possible to see dates of videos being viewed on YouTube so I had a little delve into analytics. And I can see that dd’s video has been viewed twice since I submitted the link 😊

My dd was working on an exam for another instrument at the end of term so only got to focus on this one shortly before the audition, after lessons were finished for the term. So we ended up having to record the video whilst away on holiday!

Usually results come in end ish of October. They need to do the late auditions stuff before that for instruments that they don't have enough of. Such a long wait!!!

Its way too early yet i think. We've faced this wait every year for the last 3 years and its been right at the end of october each time im afraid!
We're waiting on u13's for one and projects for the other and not overly optimistic for either. Projects is for a v.popular instrument so sadly not holding out much hope at all.

Did you get in in the last 3 years but just not optimistic for this year? And if so, why not?

My u13 auditionee has got in before but there were a lot of them at u12 and all strong players and it only takes a few more to come out of the woodwork who havent auditioned before and some may not get in again. Thats my assumption anyway, that someone new to nco could get a place.

My projects one hasnt done it before and its a highly competitive instrument (strings) where i know most kids will be playing way over the stated level sadly.

Just wondering if people whose children have joined NCO in the past, what grade they were for their age category. Would that give us nervous parents some ideas? For example for U12, for a string instument, the child who got offer was grade 6?7?8 etc.etc

My DC is a 2025 main orchestra member in the woodwind section. Last year, results came out on 25/10. She auditioned for U12s and was 1st reserve but no space came up. She didn’t get an offer at all for U13s. This year she got in, largely as a result of one of the previous members choosing not to audition this time round. She had achieved grade 7 the year before IIRC. There are some amazingly advanced kids in all of the sections, and a few like my DC who more at that sort of best of the school/youth orchestra but not superstar level.

Thanks for sharing and well done to your DC!
sounds like even a grade 7 can’t guarantee a place in the U12 orchestra 😱

We were Under 12s. grade 7- strings. I think it also goes on the way you sound in the audition and the way you play the excerpts. Lots of parents possibly say their child is a grade xyz but I suppose it boils down to the quality of their playing at those levels or just with the pieces.

Average grades must depend hugely on the numbers applying to each section, hence cello & violin being so competitive. At least the excerpts for those instruments help to differentiate between applicants. The instruments offering late auditions must accept lower grade/ability. But overall I think technical accuracy and musicality are probably more sought after than higher grades. My dd’s recording had several imperfections, which is annoying, but we were on holiday with family so limited opportunities to do several takes. Anyway doubt she can compete against all the super-talented kids out there but hey-ho, it’s fun to throw your hat into the ring sometimes! And now she has some pieces ready to perform at school if they ask :-)

we did not have enough time to practice the excerpts and not sure how good the recording of the pieces are. We did get distinction on the exam after we did the recording. Oh what a fun journey this is😁

Congrats on the distinction 👏 Sounds like your dc is in with a really good chance! Which grade was it?

it is grade 6 but it is one of the strings, where all the other applicants are most likely to be around grade 7/8 😅

YouTube studio analytics are great! I just noticed if you browse it on a laptop or computer rather than on your phone, you can see so much more information. it tells you which video has been viewed at when, as long as you submitted your video the right way and not open to the general public.

Your child is doing brilliantly whatever the outcome! Strings seem super competitive but grade 6 played really well and then excerpts that rival kids who may on paper be grade 7/8 must give a good chance surely. At least there are lots of spaces for strings! I guess we have to wait and see, still a while to go for the results. It’s impossible to second guess. The moderators must know what they’re looking for :-)

Some will describe themselves as 'grade 7' even if they are just working towards taking it.
My experience is there are absolutely grade 6-7 kids in u12 in less competitive sections but there are also a lot of kids on violin or cello already grade 8 or even diploma. However there are lots of violinists and im sure there will be kids sat further back in seconds that are not diploma level!

grade 8 or diploma wow

Taking a seat in the waiting room - DD hoping for u14 viola. She has done u12 and 13 and projects before that, she absolutely loves it. So fingers crossed for her and all your young people.

FWIW she reckons grade 6 or 7 quite normal for u12, but I don't know how good she is at telling. If they were grade 6 auditioning they could well be grade 7 by the summer course anyway.

Not too long now hopefully! @thirdfiddle your DD has done so well being successful in all the previous years. I hope she gets in again to finish it off in style!

I hope they don’t make us wait too long for the results! Though I’ve no expectations at all for my DD, it will be nice to know the outcome.

Waiting here too…

Also waiting here too. My DD has been in U12 and U13 main orchestra on brass and has applied for U14 this year. She’s made amazing friends and absolutely loved the residentials so is desperate to get in this year too. She’s taken G7 (distinction) and is taking her G8 at Christmas. She says the standard at U13 was really high and a lot had already done their G8 / diploma.