The National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain (NCO) is a registered charity which provides orchestral training for children aged seven to 13. The organisation comprises five age-banded orchestras and five regional orchestras. Entry is by audition and every year approximately 500 young musicians are selected to play in the orchestras. It offers a life-changing experience to talented young musicians.[1]
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The NCO was founded in 1978 by Vivienne Price MBE. Price, a violin teacher, had set up a number of local orchestras for children in Surrey but was acutely aware of the lack of national opportunities for younger musicians. The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain had existed since 1948 and there were many regional youth orchestras which catered for teenagers, but younger children struggled to fit in socially and so Price established the NCO.[2]
There are five age-banded orchestras:
The Main Orchestra (Under 14) is one of the finest children's orchestras in the world. To get into any of these orchestras, the children have to audition. Even if you are already a member, you must re-audition before you are accepted for the NCO again.
In addition to the age-banded orchestras, there are five regional orchestras:
These are optional for members and include children across the full age range, seven to 13. They meet monthly during term time and give members additional opportunities to meet and rehearse new repertoire. Each orchestra performs for family and friends in June.
Each orchestra meets once or twice a year at residential courses around the UK, where they receive training from leading music tutors and conductors. Main and Under 13 Orchestras have a nine-day course in the spring and another nine-day course in the summer, as well as a non-residential winter weekend. The younger orchestras have an eight-day course in the summer. The courses are spent in sectionals and full orchestral rehearsals, preparing repertoire to be played at an end of course concert. There is also time to explore other music and for recreation.
Each course culminates in a concert. The younger orchestras perform for family and friends, while Main and Under 13 Orchestras perform in public at major concert venues. Performances have been given at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Royal Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Southbank Centre, The Sage Gateshead, Colston Hall, St David's Hall, Leeds Town Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, The Anvil, Basingstoke, Brighton Dome and Nottingham Royal Concert Hall.
Repertoire for the concerts is varied and includes Classical, Romantic, 20th and 21st century music, as well as film scores. The NCO has commissioned, premiered and played new pieces by contemporary composers such as Matthew Curtis and Stephen Frost. The Orchestras have a reputation for shunning easy alternatives and tackling challenging repertoire.[3]
The NCO has been on tour, most recently to Italy in 2008 when Lady Susanna Walton (widow of Sir William Walton) invited Main Orchestra to play in the Walton's open-air theatre within the famous botanical gardens of La Mortella on the island of Ischia. They also played an outstanding concert to a packed audience literally standing in the aisles in the Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.
In 2006 Main Orchestra toured to China where they took part in the International Festival of Music in Beijing. They performed in the Forbidden City Concert Hall and at the University of Beijing.
After leaving the NCO many musicians continue to pursue other musical opportunities. Typically, over half of the NYO players have previously been members of the NCO (86 out of 156 in 2010[4]). The BBC Young Musician of the Year 2010 competition featured 25 category finalists, 13 of whom had progressed through the NCO.[5]
Many alumni become professional musicians, some playing for leading orchestras and ensembles. As well as those who build successful careers as professional musicians, many other NCO alumni go on to excel in other fields – medicine, law and engineering among others.
Nicola Benedetti, violinist, NCO member 1995-8
Guy Johnston, cellist, NCO member 1992-5
Daniel Harding, conductor, NCO member 1988
Robin Ticciati, conductor, NCO member 1992-5
Janice Graham, violinist, NCO member 1980-2