NSSO Philharmonic: Closed for 2025
The Philharmonic will be made up of players of a standard of grade 7 to diploma level and above. We will be playing exciting mainstream symphonic repertoire with a full sized symphony orchestra.
- For players of approximately grade 7 standard up to and beyond diploma level, admission is by audition
- Exploration of the symphonic and film/TV repertoire
- Daily individual instrumental coaching as well as sectional and full rehearsals
- Evening entertainment during the week including party and quiz nights
- Extensive range of social and sporting activities, includes swimming and a Malvern Hills walk
- Full board and accommodation, all music and transport between venues is provided
- Residential and non-residential places available
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Each year NSSO brings together approximately 80 committed young players to the Philharmonic, mostly between the ages of 13 and 17, though some very able younger players have taken part too.
NSSO Philharmonic offers a week of high-quality orchestral music under the baton of a leading professional musician, assisted by an inspirational team of instrumental tutors, each of them a respected and experienced performer and teacher.
Through a combination of challenging programmes, uplifting rehearsals and inspirational musicianship, NSSO endeavours to provide our young players with a real taste of the professional orchestral world. Many of our alumni have gone on to perform not only with NYO, but also with some of the world’s leading orchestras.
About the Orchestra
We provide the foundations necessary for building a future as an orchestral musician, whether professional or enthusiastic amateur. At the start of the course players work with specialist instrumental coaches, to help meet the technical challenges of the repertoire, before joining together in sectional rehearsals led by our Heads of Section. The students are now fully prepared for the full orchestral rehearsals are and able to enjoy exploring new and challenging repertoire.
Concert programmes are ambitious. Amongst the repertoire in previous years were symphonies by Vaughan Williams, Saint-Saens, Rachmaninov and Mahler; tone poems by Richard Strauss and Dvorak; concertos by Elgar, Brahms, Britten and Tchaikovsky. There is a commitment to performing music of the last hundred years as well as great orchestral classics such as Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Holst The Planets, Stravinsky The Firebird and Respighi The Pines of Rome.
Music is at the heart of the NSSO experience, but there is also a vibrant social programme organised by a hugely experienced and committed pastoral team, many of whom are NSSO alumni. Students may find themselves playing rounders against their tutors one evening, enjoying the facilities of the sports centre or swimming pool the next, competing in a quiz or even just taking in the local town and its amenities.
The friendships and contacts made on NSSO courses can last a lifetime and once you’ve joined NSSO you’re part of our family forever!