Taking Part

If you are aged 10 to 21 and your teacher considers that you are of grade 3 standard or above, come to one of our Playing Days around the country for a taste of what it is like to play in a Recorder Orchestra with professional conductors and tutors. You will find out what NYRO is all about and will very likely make new recorder playing friends. Recorder teachers are also welcome at our Playing Days.

The next stage is to try our residential courses. The Easter Course is for players of grade 4 or above. You do not need a grade pass; your teacher’s assessment is sufficient. There is no audition, so it is the perfect starting point for younger and less experienced players as well as providing playing challenges for the more able. During the course, players will be split into smaller groups according to their playing ability as well as sessions when everyone plays together. There will be time to relax and enjoy the social life, hear the tutors perform and perhaps do your own party turn. There will be an informal concert on the last day to which your family and friends will be welcome. There is an option for daytime attendance.

For the Summer Course our tutors hold auditions around the country in the autumn and spring periods. They will judge which orchestra you are best suited to, NYRO for grade 8 and above or NYTRO for grade 5 and above. During the weeklong course a few outstanding players will be selected for BlockWork, the onetoapart chamber orchestra. You will practice technique and music in sections and also in the performing groups; NYRO, NYTRO, BlockWork and Sinfonia, which is made of the members of NYRO and NYTRO who are not in BlockWork.  There will be free time for relaxing and socialising, a party when you may contribute your musical or nonmusical party turn and a performance by the tutors to hear. On the last day there will be a public concert, recorded on a CD that will be available afterwards.

Remember, if you think you cannot afford the fees, help may be possible. Our parent body, the Society of Recorder Players, has the SRP Walter Bergmann Fund to assist young recorder players.