About the NCO - join us!

The Orchestra would like to invite along anybody who is interested in playing live classical music. In particular, NCO would like to invite players who might like to consider joining the Orchestra. If you play, or have played, an orchestral instrument to a reasonable standard and would like to join the NCO under the expert Conductorship of Mr Bryan Western (Conductor - Harrogate Symphony Orchestra) do come along to any of our rehearsals.

The Nidderdale Community Orchestra (NCO) was created in 2011 and is based in Pateley Bridge where we rehearse and give performances at St Cuthbert’s Church on King Street, Pateley Bandstand and at Birstwith Parish Church.

We welcome players of all instruments and all ages. Some of our members have dusted instruments off after many years of hibernation, others have just begun. We have lots of fun playing together, please think about joining us.

Here's what our current members think about us:

• "sense of achievement - playing in a group"
• "fun - challenge - learning"
• "developing musical skills - gaining confidence"
• "relaxed atmosphere - great people"

Our Conductor and Musical Director is Mr Bryan Western, Conductor of the Harrogate Symphony Orchestra. The NCO is made up of forty regular playing members spanning a very wide range of ages and musical abilities. Most of our members live in Nidderdale or Harrogate.

Performances given before Covid lockdown restrictions included concerts with works by Beethoven, Bizet, Schubert and Haydn, as well as popular and modern film music. The Orchestra accompanied Mr David Auld (Clarinetist with the Harrogate Symphony Orchestra) in Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A and Anna Noakes, the internationally acclaimed Flautist, in the Flute Concerto ‘Fantaisie Pastorale’ by Hongroise.

Now that the NCO is restarting following the Covid break, we would very much like to invite new members. If you play an orchestral instrument (or once played and your instrument is in a box in the loft), there is an opportunity to join our Orchestra. We enjoying playing together at rehearsals and doing performances.

To join

Please either come along to one of our rehearsals or contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We have a termly membership fee of £40, payable at the first rehearsal of each term, or an annual fee of £108 which includes a 10% discount.