Welcome to the start of NCO’s 40th anniversary!

NCO is 40 years old! I know… don’t we look young?!

In 1978, Vivienne Price made her dreams of founding an organisation a reality as she hosted the very first NCO residential course for 70 young musicians at a YMCA centre in Eastbourne, Sussex. Forty years and one MBE award later, Vivienne has left behind a legacy of music education which continues to inspire children around the country to achieve their full potential through learning and performing orchestral repertoire.

To celebrate this very special anniversary we have lots of exciting plans in the pipeline for the next 12 months which we can’t wait to get started on. These ideas and activities will include:

• Welcoming over 600 young musicians into our 12 orchestras!
• ​Holding 9 residential courses, 1 non-residential weekend and 48 Regional Orchestra rehearsals.
• ​Performing at some the UK's best loved venues. Save the dates here.
• Working with musical wellbeing experts to give advice on posture and movement for little bodies.
• Themed programmes for the residential courses including ‘Landscapes and Seascapes’ for Main Orchestra and an ‘American Celebration’ for the Under 13 Orchestra.
• Placing children right at the core of our vision. We will be adding debates and discussions with our young musicians on the value of a creative education, as well as creating a Children’s Board which places our members at the centre of our vision.
• Linking all repertoire programmes to BBC 10 Pieces allowing all of our orchestras to connect with music hubs and the widest possible audiences, to inspire more young musicians.
• Making an instrument response to Kerry Andrew’s "No Place like….." (BBC 10 Pieces) which will be showcased on the CBBC website. During the spring, Under 13 Orchestra will create their musical response, No Place like NCO, with composer John Webb.

We'll be keeping you regularly updated on all of these plans, and more, as we put them in place. Make sure you're connected to NCO on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (search nco_gb) to be in the know!

If you would like to support NCO’s work and help us to continue inspiring young musicians for many more years, why not join one of our amazing membership schemes today?! Each donation really does make a difference. Read more here.