Dear Parents/Carers,
A few updates for you all from NCC.
Summer Course dates
A reminder that our summer course is 3rd – 9th August. I hope that everyone received the correction to the dates that were in my October newsletter. The correct was sent out straight after the October newsletter. I thought it worth flagging this up again to be sure that everyone had seen it.
The dates are correct in the newsletter stored in our members’ area. We store all newsletters in the members’ area so if you think you may have missed an update it is always worth checking there.
Bursary applications
A reminder too that our bursary scheme is open for applications and closes at 5pm on Friday 3rd 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 income of £40,000 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 all details and an application form on our website here:
Course Fees & Bursary Scheme – The National Children’s Choir
Easter course deposit payment deadline
The £100 deposit for the Easter course is due on Friday 17th January.
National Centre for Early music composition competition
Applications are open for the Young Composers Award run by the National Centre for Early Music. The deadline for registration is Friday 7th February. This may be of interest to any of our young people who compose their own music.
Young Composers Award | NCEM | England
NCC Scholar for 2025
We’ve just announced our Choral Scholar for 2025. Congratulations to Olivia Moss.
We had a very strong field of candidates this year with some excellent auditions. All those who auditioned should be proud of themselves. We are delighted to award the scholarship for this year to Olivia. We feel that she really embodies what NCCGB is all about and are sure that she will be an excellent scholar and ambassador for NCCGB.
Olivia said upon hearing the news: ‘Words can’t describe how honoured I am to be the 2025 Choral Scholar. NCC has been such an integral part of my life for the last 4 years and the community it creates is so incredibly special. The choir has allowed me to learn to be myself and to explore my passions in a positive and nurturing environment, something I cannot wait to continue this year and further into the future. There is nothing that brings me more joy than singing and I am beyond excited to share this with the choir as Choral Scholar this year!’
Green Choir auditions
Auditions for Green Choir will take place online during the morning of Saturday 1st 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:
1.The candidate was a member of the Blue Choir in 2024
2.The successful candidate will have reached a high vocal standard with advanced sight-reading ability.
3.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.
4.The application form is completed link here and submitted.
5.All applications and supporting documents must be received by 5pm on Friday 17th January. No applications will be accepted after this date.
Future Talent – Destiny’s Journey by Sam Nutter
I hope that many of you will already have seen on our website and social media that Destiny’s Journey was released on 22nd November, to mark Future Talent’s 20th Anniversary.
We were delighted to be invited to be part of the project. During our summer course, some of our Senior Choir recorded Destiny’s Journey, composed by 15-year-old Sam Nutter.
You can enjoy the video here (link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUmPtQ9OpKE), performed by the Hallé, conducted by Future Talent President Sir Mark Elder, and featuring our Seniors.
Choir member achievements
Izzy Pond has been offered a choral scholarship at Brasenose College, Oxford.
Ava Rajp auditioned for and was selected to be the child performer at a sold-out screening of The Snowman at the Town Hall in Birmingham. It will involve her singing the solo ‘Walking in the air’ with a professional orchestra.
Aarush Sen – Grade 5 Theory with distinction. Aarush was also invited to sing at the Birmingham Hippodrome with the Royal Birmingham Ballet.
Congratulations to you all from everyone at NCC.
Office closure for Christmas
The NCCGB office will close on Friday 20th December until Thursday 2nd 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
Links
Course Fees & Bursary Scheme
Young Composers Award | NCEM | England
Green Choir Application Form
Sam Nutter Video