We are so excited to announce that auditions are now open for NCO 2027!
At NCO, some activities are auditioned and some are non-auditioned. Our Orchestral Weeks and Orchestral Weekends are auditioned activities, bringing together young musicians from across the UK for inspiring orchestral experiences filled with music, creativity and collaboration.
We are also excited to be launching a brand new NCO Weekends orchestra in the South West for 2027.
Auditions are open from now until 9am, Friday 31st July 2026.
Auditions are free and submitted via video, with financial support available for membership fees.
We welcome auditions for NCO 2027 from young musicians who:
are aged 8–13 years old (as of 31st August 2026)
play an orchestral instrument to the appropriate standard
are British citizens or are living/studying in the UK
Whether you are completely new to NCO or returning for another year, we would love to hear from young musicians interested in joining our Orchestral Weeks and Weekends in 2027.
All auditioned NCO activities include inspiring in-person orchestral coaching with incredible tutors, conductors and guest artists, alongside access to online activities and resources throughout the year.
We can't wait to hear you.
At NCO, we empower children to discover the joy of orchestral music, explore their creativity and realise their ambitions in a fun, supportive and welcoming environment.
We are interested to hear from all young musicians, whatever their background, schooling or circumstances. We are particularly keen to increase representation in our orchestras from groups currently under-represented in classical music, including children from state schools.
If you’d like the opportunity to hear from our team directly and ask any further questions you might have, you can register in advance to join us at our Auditions Webinar at 3pm on Sunday 31st May.
