<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I was just wondering how legit the NSO summer institute program is. How many musicians total are accepted? Also, how many fellowship scholarships do they give out? I received a fellowship, but I'm wondering if they just give it out to everyone?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Is this the one [National</a> Symphony Orchestra: The National Symphony Orchestra National Trustees’ Summer Music Institute](<a href=“http://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/nsoed/smi/]National”>http://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/nsoed/smi/) ? If so, as legit as they come.</p>
<p>I’d consider it a wonderful opportunity. Congrats.</p>
<p>I went last year. It’s very good program!</p>
<p>I can’t help but add this–you sound like me when I got a call that I’d made it to the Pillsbury Bake-Off finals. I’d never entered a contest before and just sent some recipes on a whim–so I said, oh, but what about the other recipes I entered?</p>
<p>NSO is a good thing.</p>
<p>violadad- yes, that’s the one</p>
<p>Cosmos - would you mind describing your experience a little bit? I play the cello so I guess I’m more interested in the strings section, but I’m also interested about the conducting lessons they mentioned. I’m also curious about the overall experience… what is the age range like, are most people planning on being music majors, is there free time to hang out, etc… </p>
<p>Also, I’m wondering if there are obligations that come with accepting the fellowship…other than the normal practicing, etc</p>
<p>Thank you so much</p>
<p>Sure. </p>
<p>It’s a very good orchestra. About 90% of people are in conservatories currently, and the rest are high school students planning on attending conservatories. So the age range was around 20 or 21 to 17 or so. I was the only one in a university not being a performance major. The conductor is pretty good, although not the greatest I’ve ever had. Lessons are terrific with the NSO people, and the chamber coachings are great, too. They choose good rep for the orchestra & chamber music so that’s not an issue… String section is strong, definitely. </p>
<p>There’s plenty of time to hang out - mostly in the evenings because the days are pretty much full from the morning until dinnertime with rehearsals and lessons. There’s still some time for individual practice though. I didn’t do the conducting lessons, but I think they required two lesson sessions with the fellowship conductor and then the chance to conduct the fellowship orchestra and get feed-back. Pretty niffty. They also get you free tickets for Wolf Trap a few times, you get to go to the July 4th stuff at the capitol building for free and get good seats, and do performances at the Kennedy Center and Millennium Stage of course. </p>
<p>Accommodations are at GWU and the rooms are huge with kitchens, TVs, and internet. </p>
<p>Let me know if you have other questions.</p>
<p>wow that sounds awesome. thanks for everything and post more if you have other things to add :D</p>
<p>tuesdayair, some details here <a href=“http://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/nsoed/smi/state_app.pdf[/url]”>http://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/nsoed/smi/state_app.pdf</a>.</p>
<p>Cosmos might also be able to flesh out some detail about the “contract” you will be required to sign the NSO, but you can always email/or call and ask the program. Without having reference to a specific document, these contracts tend to address participant behavior and attendance, commit to being in attendance for the duration, participation in performance, liability for physical damage to facilities, and a release of your image/recording in promotional literature/media.</p>
<p>The letter I received mentioned a concerto competition… How does that work? It must be in the beginning of the program so that the orchestra can rehearse the piece?</p>
<p>It’s towards the beginning of the program. A good number of people try out (maybe 15-20) and then they pick a few finalists.</p>
<p>do they play full concertos? or a movemen/t</p>
<p>Either is acceptable.</p>
<p>Ditto what Cosmos said. I went as a cellist for two years and they were two of the best summers of my life. Just make sure to practice your orchestra/chamber music BEFORE you get there and it’ll be loads more fun.</p>
<p>would this be better than the Honors Orchestra of America? or equally the same?</p>
<p>lovemusic15, this thread is from 5 years ago. I haven’t seen some of these posters on CC in awhile. Hopefully you’ll still get some responses from people that have done one or the other.</p>
<p>Wow, I’m so sorry to bump such an old thread, just as sorry as I am to see it being so far down in pages. NSO is a fantastic program! And I guess it’s best to necro semi-old threads than make repetitions of them.
@lovemuch15, I’m pretty certain NSO is more competitive than HOA. As to better - that’s anyone’s guess. I’ve never been down to HOA, and I’m also pretty sure it’s at most a week long. NSO is a month-long experience, and it’s more focused on growth than on creating a polished performance.</p>
<p>If anyone has questions about NSO, feel free to ask me! I’m a violist from last year, and will probably be returning this year unless NYO calls me. </p>