’It’s quite a big community, but it’s still personal: you don’t feel lost in the masses,’ says the British cellist
My mum found the National Chamber Music Course online, and I’ve now been three times now. It’s every summer for a week, and you stay in a school boarding house.
Every morning a selected group wakes everyone up – often with a drum! – then we all warm up with stretches and games like Bulldog. Throughout the day there’s an hour of choir, a free period for solo practising, coaching sessions with your two quartets, an instrumental session (where we cellos usually do improvisation for an hour or talk with one of the teachers), as well as Alexander technique and cabaret sessions.
After dinner there’s a concert, and then the gala orchestra. It’s basically just a sightreading orchestra – it’s really fun! You also have the chance to play a concerto movement; this past year, I did the first movement of the Haydn C major Cello Concerto.
Other than that, there’s also the regular orchestra, an opportunity to sing madrigals, and sport sessions. I know it’s very physical when you’re playing an instrument, but I feel like you sit down a lot, so it’s nice to be outside and do team sports.
Thursday night has all the cabaret performances, which are always really great and funny, followed by a fire show by one of the staff members! The following night you perform your first quartet – the most polished ones are picked to be played in front of the parents on Saturday – alongside your second quartet, the choir piece and all the orchestral pieces.
The quartets are my favourite part, but I love how you’re always doing something all throughout the day. I would recommend coming with your pieces fully learnt, because the week is so full-on and fun, you don’t want to be stressing about a difficult part of your piece!
NCMC is quite a big community, but it’s still personal: you don’t feel lost in the masses, and the first time I did it I immediately felt at home.
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