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.

The standard for projects is genuinely v high. My DD is 9 and did it last year too (she's grade 5/6) and I was so impressed. The way they improve between the two weekends is also pretty mindblowing.

🙋 Hi! Thats amazing for your daughter, the standard to get in for violin must be so high!

Do you know if anyone submitted grade 4 pieces where they state grade 4+ and got in. We tried every year for 3 years now and every time it is a no. Not sure if there is any point to continue.

I think my son did the first year he got onto projects - two grade 4 pieces. That was a few years back though.

Our pieces were much higher than that for violin but I am sure some of the other instruments for the symphonies will be slightly lower. Projects not sure but for violin it was still higher than 4. The music is challenging so not sure a grade 4 could do it easily.

This is our 9 year old's second year in projects and was grade 4 last year. The music is well above grade 4 level I would say, even for projects. We got there but had to practice a lot prior to the weekends! Really good for bringing their sight reading on

We submitted grade 3 pieces first year in projects but DC was making rapid progress and by time the project commenced had done gd4 and secured a high mark.
I think the level to get in for shortage instruments is much lower.
Kids in the violin section talked about taking grade 7,8.

When you say you've tried for 3 years? Have you tried with successively harder pieces each time? Eg grade 4 the first, gd5 the next time etc? And was this all for projects or have you gone on to try for Nationals?
I think sometimes maybe they expect older kids to be reaching higher levels?

My dc has four instruments at grade 5+, one of them about 7, but it is not an orchestra instrument. He is an excellent sight reader according to his teachers and he loves playing with the others (social animal).

Two years ago we specifically targeted pieces at grade 4 to play them really well, then last year grade 5 (these were new, so I understand the rejection) but this year a solid grade 5 with a lot of positive feedback from those music teachers who heard it. Didn't get in to the Projects. He is not disappointed but I wonder if it is worth keeping going. Next year he is 13.

I wonder if they might have expected to see more progress since last year - if they played grade 5 pieces last year and are still working on grade 5 pieces this year it suggests perhaps their progress isn't quite as fast as some students might be - that may be a consequence of learning 4 instruments at once which is a lot!!

What instrument is it blue?
And what sort of marks does your dc achieve in exams?

Do you think they compare them year on year? I would be astonished. Fortunately or unfortunately, he really doesn't mind the level as he is not planning to become a professional musician, but he always fancied playing several (also very different) instruments at once. I was very keen for him to try Projects because there is so much raving about NCO, but we definitely cannot afford residentials and we won't qualify for any bursary/financial help as we don't receive any benefits. So, that's the reason to understand how to approach next year. I am even contemplating him picking up one of the instruments they always extend auditions for, but how realistic is it starting (almost) from scratch

Genuinely ive no idea whether they might remember an applicant from one year to the next.
I don't think its wise to take up an instrument and try and get to grade 3 or 4 in a year, purely to try and get into nco by any means possible...
Isnt it better for kids to focus on enjoying playing an instrument they have a passion for, rather than picking one randomly just because it happens to be a shortage instrument for nco?!

Blue may I ask what instrument is it that your son is trying to audition for NCO please? If it's violin/Cello which are considered to be the most competitive instruments for orchestra, then they'll probably look for kids with higher grades. Apart from NCO, have you tried any other orchestras? Does your DC play in any other local orchestra with the instrument he applied for? Tbh I wouldn't start him on one of the instruments they're lacking the applications, just to get in NCO. He's already doing 4 instruments, which really is a lot! How's he finding the time to practice? This year is my son's 2nd year in NCO, he's 12 now. He joined NCO projects last year and really enjoyed it. That's why we applied for the U13s national program this year, knowing that this is what he wants to do himself. He plays violin and piano, and preparing grade 8 for both at the moment. He has been playing for a local orchestra group for a number of years and at school as well. He told me that NCO standard is really high, but they make it a lot of fun and the conductors are inspirational.

Yes, it was meant to be a bit of a cry rather a serious consideration. But I was a little sad...

And it is cello. I know it is very competitive. <sigh>

There are other options to explore too. The ESO in the Midlands does holiday courses - some for a couple of days and some residential. They're really fab.

Thank you, I will look into this!

National schools symphony orchestra are amazing too. It's residential and was amazing last year. And once they're in they don't have to re-audition again unless they want to move up to the next orchestra

I don't think you have to be on benefits to receive financial support:
www.nco.org.uk/join-in/fees-and-financial-support
Might be worth enquiring.

Sorry to hear it isn't working out for your DC blueandyelow.

I would conjecture that age is taken into account for Projects. So an 8 yr old playing grade 5 pieces is more likely to get a yes than a 12 yr old playing grade 5 pieces. Because the 8 yr old would be seen as on a trajectory for national orchestras later.

And also they have less need of it - a 12 yr old at grade 5 standard is likely to find peers on a local stage, whereas (london aside maybe!) 8 yr olds at that level are more of a rarity.

I don't think I'd keep bashing at NCO if it's not working out, unless the DC themselves particularly want to. Happily once they are secondary age, there are also a lot of other good options as others have mentioned. There were a number of them mentioned on the main music thread recently if you haven't seen (in Extra-Curricular activities).

PS if can't afford residentials is an issue is she eligible for NYO Inspire? Non auditioning, grade 6/age 13+, completely free. Another one I've heard amazing things about.

Also it doesn't need to have an 'N' in the title to be good, lots of great local youth opportunities around too depending on where you're based.

I'd second joining the music extra curricular thread too- lots of people on there who can recommend courses that their DC have loved - depending on where you are and how far you can travel there are some good options

I would conjecture that age is taken into account for Projects. So an 8 yr old playing grade 5 pieces is more likely to get a yes than a 12 yr old playing grade 5 pieces.

I'd agree with this. My nephew got in projects aged 9 playing gr 4/5 pieces on a rarer instrument. By age 11 he's playing gr 6 pieces & got into u12.

By age 12 you will have a load of kids gr 6/7/8 abrsm distinctions on strings.

I looked at this last year but wasn’t sure as my daughter’s teacher had not heard of it before and didn’t know anyone that it done it. My daughter will be 10 shortly and grade 6, were there others her age there?

Can i ask @BlueAndYelow is your dc privately educated? I sometimes wonder whether a state school or less privileged child would be more likely to get in playing at same standard, because they've got to that level without the same opportunities a privately educated pupil might have had?