Dear Parents/Carers,
A few updates for you all from NCC.
Bursary applications
A reminder that our bursary scheme is open for applications and closes at 5pm on 6th January. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. This includes any additional supporting information, so please do ensure that your application is complete at the point of submission.
Our bursary scheme is open to those with a total annual household net income of £35,000 or under. Bursaries will be awarded of between 5 and 100% of the course fees, depending on the applications that we receive in that cycle. Any bursary awards will be taken off the balance payment for each course.
You can find the bursary form and information in the members’ area of the website here: Bursary Application Form
You will need to be logged into the website to be able to access the form.
Easter course second payment deadline
The second payment for the Easter course is due by Friday 9th January
The amounts due are:
Junior choirs £450
Senior and Tour choirs £301.50
Sibling discounts will be taken off the balance payment.
Green Choir auditions
Auditions for Green Choir will take place online on Saturday 7th February.
Auditions are open to Blue Choir members in Year 8 and above who feel they have made substantial progress since the end of the summer course and would like to put themselves forward for audition.
The criteria for entry are that:
The candidate was a member of the Blue Choir in 2025 and has reached a high vocal standard with advanced sight-reading ability.
The application must be accompanied by a supporting letter/email from a music professional (choir conductor/music teacher/singing teacher) which confirms that significant musical development has taken place since the last course.
The application form can be found here in the members’ area of the website: Green Choir Auditions
All applications and supporting documents must be received by 5pm on Friday 16th January. No applications will be accepted after this date.
Papagena Concert – 30th March 2026
Some of our choir will be singing with Papagena at their public concert at Malvern Priory on 30th March. Papagena are an acclaimed female a capella quintet. Our Blue Choir Conductor Suzzie, and our Green Choir Assistant Conductor Shivani sing with them.
In case anyone missed my original email and would like to sign their children up to participate, this is open to singers with upper voices from Blue, Green and Senior Choirs.
This is a really exciting opportunity as it will be the world premiere of a new piece that Papagena has commissioned. The piece is called Passia and is a setting of the Passion but told from the perspective of the women at the foot of the cross.
This concert will take place ahead of our Easter course, and therefore we would need anyone participating to prepare at home from recordings and backing tracks that Papagena will send out. There will then be a rehearsal in the morning ahead of the concert at 3pm and the opportunity to work with Papagena. Timings are to confirmed, but I am anticipating a start time of 10am.
There will be a £50 charge for participation to enable NCC to cover our costs involved with this project.
We have a few spaces left so if anyone missed this information and would like to sign their children up, please contact me by 8th January.
Choir member achievements
Elise B has successfully auditioned to join the Junior Chorus for Garsington Opera’s performances of Der Rosenklavier.
Sophia S – Grade 5 singing distinction
Lottie S – Grade 6 singing distinction, Grade 4 oboe distinction
Eva H– Grade 1 violin distinction
Katerina S-M – gained a place at CYM Guildhall London
Halle O – Grade 5 music theory merit
Olly E – Grade 7 musical theatre singing distinction
Louis F – Grade 8 singing distinction
Micah B – Grade 2 piano distinction
Rosie J – Grade 2 singing merit, Grade 2 LAMDA distinction
Aarush S – Grade 6 classical singing merit, Grade 4 singing for musical theatre distinction, Grade 5 viola merit
Jess I – ABRSM Diploma in Singing
Jacob S – Music scholarship on Guitar and Singing to secondary school
Office closure for Christmas
The NCCGB office will close on 23rd December until 5th January 2025.
I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year and hope that everyone has a happy and peaceful festive season.
Best wishes
Nicole