In Conversation with Anna and Sidney, students from the Norfolk County Youth Orchestra

The Norfolk County Youth Orchestra (NCYO) is a orchestra holiday course offered in partnership with Guildhall Young Artists (GYA) Norwich, which gives young musicians the opportunity to perform a wide range of music, learn from industry-leading teachers and perform in a public concert. The orchestra, which offers two courses a year, is for ages 11–18 who have reached at least Grade 6 on their instrument.

We caught up with friends Anna (age 16) and Sidney (age 18), who have been with the NCYO since 2019, to find out about their experience. 

Hi Anna and Sidney! You've done seven courses with the NCYO to date. What has this experience meant to you? 

It has definitely made me more confident in my playing and I think with working with new people as well. In my first course, I didn’t know anyone at the start but everyone was great and really friendly. It’s a completely different opportunity to come together to play to such a high standard and have this orchestral experience. As string players it is nice to be in a bigger group and play challenging repertoire. It has helped me work with independence and to appreciate my own progression and that makes me feel confident as a musician. It has helped me learn to trust myself too.

How important do you both feel a course like this for young musicians is in Norfolk?

We attend GYA Norwich on Saturdays, and while there are lots of opportunities in Norwich, it is fantastic that everyone comes from across the county and there is a mix of musicians from so many different schools. We meet new people of all different ages, who we wouldn’t have the chance to work with normally, as they live too far away to come to Norwich regularly or study elsewhere— Norfolk is such a big county. It makes you feel really proud to represent the county by playing for the Youth Orchestra and perform in different public venues across Norfolk.

What is it like to have the experience of performing for the public in prestigious venues across the county?

It’s a very collaborative experience and there is a huge sense of achievement, particularly when you think back to the first day. The repertoire is always great and you get to hear it all come together in settings with incredible acoustics. I always try to savour it as an experience and the last note which is the culmination of the week’s work is always a meaningful moment. It’s a privilege to perform it but we usually focus more on feeling proud of the progress we have made and the sense of achievement is huge, particularly knowing how far we have come in such a short time as a result of the hard work we have all put in. The intensity of the week is so worth it.

What is it like to have the chance to work with the team of professional tutors and conductor?

It’s amazing. We work with Andy Morley as our conductor and we have tutors to work with us too, particularly for the sectionals. Throughout the course we have a chance to ask questions, learn more about the background of the pieces and the context, as well as going into more technical detail. It’s so much more than just learning the notes, it’s about grasping the importance of the style and character of each piece and understanding how that it influences our performance.

Can you tell us a bit about the social aspect of being part of the NCYO, which of course is an important part of being on the course. 

It’s great, the social times are definitely important and it is a really nice bonding experience. It is an intensive week that you all go through together, but the NCYO has such a nice community feel. In the down time everyone spends time together and is really friendly. The musical experience is incredible but it is the memories of the time with the other people which stay with you. Also the food is great!

Do you have any advice for younger musicians who aspire to join the NCYO, but might be a bit nervous?

If you’re at or approaching Grade 6 and thinking about joining NCYO, even though it might feel daunting to audition we definitely say go for it.  It is challenging but it is very fulfilling and we would say playing in such a large and exciting ensemble is well worth aiming for.  A good tip when preparing any audition is to practice playing your pieces to other people, to get comfortable with how that feels, and also to try to find likeminded people to play in an ensemble with.

GYA Norwich has lots of ensembles to join and that’s a great way to get that experience, as well as school ensembles and other local opportunities. Everybody feels nervous to audition and everyone has their own ‘first course’ nerves but everyone is so welcoming and supportive. 

How has being a part of the NCYO helped you with your own musical ambitions?

NCYO has made me feel confident in auditioning to play in orchestras and that is something that I know will be part of my life in the future. We think that whether you go to conservatoire or on to university, NCYO is such a valuable experience and sets you up with the skills to go on into other musical settings. We would definitely recommend it.

Applications for the NCYO Spring Course, which takes place from Tuesday 2–Friday 5 April, will close Friday 23 February 2024.  

Photo Credit: Photo of Anna during the NCYO April 2023 concert, by Steve Wright.