We’re at the beginning of another jam-packed year, and we can’t wait to get started.
Preparations are already underway for the Spring Concerts, and this weekend two of our fantastic Regional Orchestras - South Westerlies and South Easterlies - will begin their rehearsals for the year. Over the next 12 months, we’ll welcome in hundreds of new members to the NCO family and will create many more memories with our existing members.
In February we will celebrate the achievements of the NCO members who have been awarded Leverhulme Scholarships for 2016. The children will travel to the Royal College of Music in London to attend the awards ceremony which takes place on Saturday 27 February. The Leverhulme Trust generously supports the NCO by awarding scholarships to four children from each of our orchestras based on outstanding performance at audition.
During March and April, our three eldest orchestras will attend their Spring Residential Courses. The Under 12 Orchestra will spend 6 days music making at Port Regis School, Dorset, before performing for the first time to their family and friends in a private concert on Saturday 2 April.
Main Orchestra and Under 13 Orchestra will visit their course venues for eight stimulating days of rehearsing ahead of their public concerts.
On Saturday 9 April, Main Orchestra will perform at Bristol's Colston Hall (7pm). The talented youngsters will be joined by Guest Conductor Natalia Luis Bassa in what promises to be a captivating and passionate performance. Repertoire details and information on how to buy tickets will be available here soon.
The next day, our Under 13 Orchestra will perform at The Anvil in Basingstoke (3pm) under the baton of Roger Clarkson – an afternoon of technically brilliant, youthfully exuberant music awaits! Tickets are on sale now from The Anvil box office on 01256 844244 or via the website here.
Once summer has arrived, all 6 of our age-banded orchestras will attend a Residential Course. The courses provide a fantastic time for each Orchestra as they divide their days between rehearsals and recreational time.
The younger orchestras – Training, Under 10 and Under 11 Orchestras – will get a taste of being in a full symphony orchestra (apart from Training which is strings only), as they end their time on the course with a private in-house performance for family and friends. Public concerts will be given by Main Orchestra on Saturday 30 July at Preston Guild Hall, Under 13 Orchestra on Saturday 13 August at Leeds Town Hall and Under 12 Orchestra on Saturday 20 August at Birmingham Town Hall.
In October, the NCO will conduct their annual Audition Tour. Over 1,000 budding young musicians are expected to apply for a place in one of our 2017 Orchestras. Last year the team held auditions in 35 venues across the space of 34 days! Keep your eyes peeled for audition dates and venues which will expect to list on our website from June.
After rehearsing throughout the year, our six Regional Orchestras will give their end of year concerts during November. The concerts are open to family and friends of the Orchestras, and provide the perfect introduction to the seasonal period.
The NCO year will conclude with a joint Winter Concert, performed by the Main and Under 13 Orchestras at the Barbican on Sunday 11 December – clear space in your diary now! The Winter Concert is one of the most popular events in the NCO calendar, and we love coming together with our members and supporters to end the year with a bang.
We hope to see you at as many NCO events as possible throughout the year.
