Orchestral weekends

Auditions are open for 2026! More

At Orchestral weekends young musicians discover the joy of making orchestral music with their peers through an incredible range of well-known music, newly discovered pieces, and new compositions written specifically for our young musicians.

Specially themed programmes also feature visits from guest artists like Jess Gillam, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Simmy Singh and Nate Holder and young musicians both play alongside them and get to know them in a Q&A.

Each non-residential weekend culminates in a celebratory sharing concert for family and friends.

As members across the year, young musicians make friends and develop their playing, as well as being supported by year-round access to online resources and events to prepare young musicians for in-person activity and to enrich their musical learning.

They are cared for brilliantly by our trained Support Team and in line with our robust safeguarding policy.

Push yourself

Surprise yourself.

Enjoy yourself.

The young musicians who take part in our Orchestral weekends might have played in orchestras or ensembles before, or it might be their first experience playing in an orchestra.

Auditions are free and are by video recording.

We have suggested grade guidance from at least grade 3, to help give children and their families an idea of the level of playing young musicians need to be at in order to gain a place and enjoy taking part. This can depend on instrument and age of the young musician, and they do not need to have taken the exams, as offers are based on their playing and musicality in their audition.

There are four auditioned regional orchestras where young musicians come together in a venue in the region closest to their home town, for two non-residential orchestral weekends – one weekend in the spring (February or March) and one in the summer (June). They currently take place in the North West, the Midlands and at two venues in London. If you live outside those regions, you will be offered a place at the activity closest to you.

The weekends involve non-residential orchestral activities bringing together musicians of mixed ability and from ages 8-14. In 2025, this included many playing at the entry grades of 3/4, many at the higher grades of 7/8 and many in-between! We are so excited to hear young musicians play and to shape the programme according to those who audition. We create parts of different difficulties so everyone can have a meaningful experience that is appropriate to them. The opportunities are exciting here for all players – including peer-to-peer learning and inspiration, building strong orchestral and collaborative players.

You can find membership fees on this page and full financial support is available.

More information & Auditions process

If you’ve been in NCO before, these orchestras were previously called our Projects orchestras.

If you audition and are offered a place, you will be allocated an orchestra depending on where you live in the United Kingdom.

Spring 2026 Orchestral Weekends will take place on:

Sat 28th February & Sun 1st March 2026 in Bolton and Birmingham

Sat 7th & Sun 8th March 2026 in London.

Summer 2026 Orchestral Weekends will take place on:

Sat 6th & Sun 7th June 2026 in London

Sat 13th & Sun 14th June 2026 in the Greater Manchester area and Birmingham.

Audition information

We welcome auditions for Orchestral Weekends from young musicians who:

Are aged 8-13 years old (as of 31st August 2025) and
Play an orchestral instrument to the appropriate standard and
Are British citizens or are living/studying in the UK (please check with us if you are unsure)

Audition information

The membership fee to take part in two Orchestral Weekends in 2026 is:

£400

We also offer full and partial financial support to help ensure everyone who is offered a place can take part.

Audition information

Auditions are free and submitted via video. Auditions opened on Wednesday 14th May and the deadline to apply including submitting your audition recording is 9am Thursday 31st July 2025.

You’ll find detailed information on auditioning on our Auditions pages.

Audition information

“NCO’s THE place to be! You make a lot of friends, music, and more! My other favourite thing about NCO is that the conductors are very funny and kind.”

Young Musician 2024

“My two sons were noticeably calmer and happier after a weekend of music! We talked in the car about how they had used a different part of their brain all weekend and you could really see it in their behaviour. We have a saying in our house - music is more important than maths!”

Parent of a Young Musician 2024

Orchestral weekends

At Orchestral weekends young musicians discover the joy of making orchestral music with their peers through an incredible range of well-known music, newly discovered pieces, and new compositions written specifically for our young musicians.

Push yourself

Surprise yourself.

Enjoy yourself.

The young musicians who take part in our Orchestral weekends might have played in orchestras or ensembles before, or it might be their first experience playing in an orchestra.

More information & Auditions process

When and Where? +

Who Can Join? +

What Does it Cost? +

How to Audition +

“NCO’s THE place to be! You make a lot of friends, music, and more! My other favourite thing about NCO is that the conductors are very funny and kind.”

“My two sons were noticeably calmer and happier after a weekend of music! We talked in the car about how they had used a different part of their brain all weekend and you could really see it in their behaviour. We have a saying in our house - music is more important than maths!”

Footer