NCO 2024/25 auditions

[BlueAndYelow]

Is there anyone waiting for NCO audition results for projects/main this year?

I am normally a lurker, but as the decision is nearing I want to share the wait. My dd is a cellist and probably will miss on the projects programme again, but hey, I will be happy to hear any positive news from the others and maybe we all can share tips as to how to improve for next time.

I should say that projects sounds great and it's not because of my kids ages that id have turned it down/ but because it clashes with their sat music centres and given they have a good holiday symphony orchestra option already then it doesn't work so well for us. Without that though id have gone for projects

Has everyone heard now? DC2 hasn't yet had an outcome either way...

No still not (u13)
Not sure if DD would accept projects - also competing with local music centre.

No still nothing on U13s... I suspect that my DS is on the reserved list. If that's the case then I guess we won't hear back until after next Monday.. fingers crossed! He's a violinist which is one of the most competitive instruments to get in. He went to Projects London last year and absolutely enjoyed it! So we really hope that he can get in the main one this year, so that he gets even more out of the two residential weeks! Good luck to those who are still waiting for the results 🤞

We are waiting to hear from projects North for 9yo. I emailed them about 4:30 and they said all responses had been sent out. I asked if they could send me his results but didn't hear back - guessing they finished for the day. Reassuring I'm not the only one who hasn't had the email through! Had a panic the application hadn't gone through but I have the email confirmation from when we submitted his audition.

We also haven't heard anything for U13.....

We are waiting to hear from projects North for 9yo. I emailed them about 4:30 and they said all responses had been sent out. I asked if they could send me his results but didn't hear back - guessing they finished for the day. Reassuring I'm not the only one who hasn't had the email through! Had a panic the application hadn't gone through but I have the email confirmation from when we submitted his audition.

I've been going through the same thought process. That sounds kind of concerning if they think they've sent them all out. Maybe some have got tied up in a spam filter on some email servers? I'm on gmail, anyone else? Have checked the junk mail.
I guess I might email tomorrow morning if it hasn't materialised. Don't want to leave it till after the weekend if the deadline's Monday.

I was about to suggest that its worth people checking spam filters.

I'm on yahoo mail... I have checked the spam folder but nothing... I did go back to double check that the submission definitely went through back in Jul! Arghhh I'm hoping that they have another bunch of emails to send tomorrow, just to avoid crashing the system if they send them all in one go? I was just thinking that even if the kids are on reserve list, shouldn't they also send an email to inform too? Hmmm let's wait and see tomorrow!

I did notice on the file with the dates and locations that one of the u13's locations hadn't yet been confirmed - i wondered if this might be causing issues as they might not know the residential capacity for example.

Hello

I can confirm all results emails have been sent yesterday (Thursday 24th October) - all children and their parents/carers get an email with their specific result, even where the situation is a reserve place.

If you have checked the spam/junk/promotions folders in the email on which you made your child's/children's application/s and you haven't received your results email/s, please email us at the Auditions email address listed here https://www.nco.org.uk/contact and we will resend your results email to you (I can't directly write the email in this post as it creates tags).

Thank you for your patience this year - we have had a number of challenges confirming residential and concert venues in the detailed puzzle it is to bring together everything needed for more than 700 children in our care at activities across 7 different orchestras. We take seriously finding the right venues for the most appropriate and most enjoyable experience for our members and it's been particularly tricky this year to confirm these. For those offered places in the Under 13 Orchestra, we will confirm the summer venues as soon as we are able.

Best wishes from all at NCO.

Thanks @communicationsNCO - very thoughtful of you to post this update. I'll email shortly.

Agreed its really appreciated!

Agreed me too!
I hope NCO will be following up non responses individually though. They can't rely on obsessive parents haunting Mumsnet to detect that they've missed an email on Thursday which they were expecting any time "from October" in order to email a query in time to get a response in time to accept a place by Monday morning!

Yes absolutely. We schedule in a number of follow up moments, including email and phone calls so that we know all children and parents/carers have been able to consider their offer in time. Thank you for your messages.

Thanks CommsNCO 🥰 that's really reassuring, I know you're dealing with huge numbers of applications and it necessarily has to be formal, so it's great to know you do have our backs and we won't just fall down a crack in the process.

And even better the office got back to me quickly today with a resend and DD is in to u13 🎉 can't wait to tell her, she's going to be so excited.

PS NCO must think we're all absolutely nuts lurking about comparing notes waiting for their emails! Guess it's a compliment to how much DC love your courses :)

I actually think something like facebook groups would be great to link parents up as its quite daunting for 11yr olds to head off on a residential knowing almost none other of the kids!

Very happy to say that we don't think you're nuts and we appreciate the NCO love! We're also acutely aware of how much planning, care, sensitivity and financial support it takes to raise all children - musical children and otherwise - and we do our best to keep you as informed and up to date as possible. Best wishes, Becky, Communications

Thank you so much for this message! Really appreciate it! I contacted NCO with the email address suggested, and got my DS result resent! He got in U13s!! So happy 😁 congratulations to all the children who got in! Thank you again NCO!

Anyone who's done the national orchestras before, can you shed any light on how it all works, is it similar to projects where music is sent out a few weeks before hand? Presumably at some point they find out whether playing first, second etc? Are there any chances to meet other kids online before the big weeks

yes my daughter got violin

Freshersflu, yes to all of that :) iirc there was a welcome event, there was an online orchestra social and a sectional with their instruments before the first residential. And other online stuff available like with Projects but DD wasn't really keen, she mostly just likes the getting together playing bit.

Hockey, I think the london Projects orchestras are a similar standard to each other, to some extent by where you live/can most easily get to and then just to balance the sections between the two.

it will be on area not ability.