NCO 2026

[Wishfulmasterchef]

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

Hoping the results are out soon. Waiting for U13s, did U12 last year and DC loved it.

Lots of g8/diplomas in brass?

There are quite a few in brass who have done G8 and are working on diploma. Most attend Junior departments. I don’t think G8 is uncommon across the orchestra and tbf, the playing was of an insane standard for their age range last year.

That's interesting, there must be a huge jump from the projects then.

I’m not sure as my DD never did projects so I have no experience there. Does your child play brass?

I think kids can progress quite rapidly on brass. Mine was gd3 his first year in projects but by time was auditioning for u13 was comfortably playing gd7/8 pieces.

Both strings and brass. There were quite a few g4-5 brass players in projects but maybe the section becomes more balanced in residentials.

What did they play last year, out of interest?

I think this is very true. It’s the physicality and stamina that is hard and I think one of the reasons you don’t see 5 year virtuoso brass players in the same way you do on violin.

My DD started on her brass instrument at 10 and is now 13 and doing her G8. Tbf, my 9yo DS started violin two years ago and is doing G5 at Christmas. He originally wanted to play brass (like his dad and sister) but found brass much harder than violin because of the physicality. He was keen to play so took up
violin and has whizzed through.

For the summer concert the U13s played -
Slava! (Bernstein)
Finlandia (Sibelius)
Jupiter (Holst)
‘Dawn’ and ‘Storm’ (Britten)
Fire (Khachaturiun)
Congo del Fuego (Marquez)

There were other modern pieces too that I hadn’t heard of and can’t remember! They were phenomenal.

Thank you @patroclusandachilles !

Under 12s were phenomenal too. It was hard to believe they were all only 12.

First year auditioning here. He is only 10 so just for weekends this year on trumpet. Not sure if he has much chance as he is the lower end of the grade requirement.

Trumpets in projects were between grade 4 and 8 as far as I remember. Music was easy so a g4 trumpeter with a solid technique will have no problem playing it.

Results out!! U12 place for DD! Shocked but v proud! Anyone else heard?

U14s out. Am v relieved! Waiting on projects.

You beat me to it!! Place in U14s for DD. Well done to others who have secured places!

Results are out! So nervous reading it, was worried to see sentences like “thank you but …”

DS got an offer in U12 !
horray!
well done to all the children who auditioned!

..

Do you remember what pieces they played in U12?

Yay, well done to all those amazing kids! Sounds like lots of positive results.

Now I have to explain what NCO is to my DH and explain that it really is worth the cost! 🤭

I thought the same! I thought it was a ‘thanks but no thanks’ situation 😂

What section is your child? Mines brass.

Harp. Heard from projects and the youngest is in too. The 40min gap between emails is a test…

There’s an u14 WhatsApp group btw. If anyone wants the link, I can send it?