Notification
Students are given notification of personnel lists, rehearsal schedules and updates – these will be via your college email and the RNCM Orchestras & Ensembles Noticeboards. All students have an RNCM email account set up and are required to check it regularly. The O&E Noticeboards are located outside the Concert Hall (opposite the Percussion Studio) and beside the Orchestra Office. Players are required to attend all rehearsals, concerts and recordings associated with each project. 

Music
Parts for all O&E projects are usually available at least two weeks before the first rehearsal. All students are expected to prepare their individual parts in advance of the first rehearsal. If possible, you should take your part to your teacher, particularly when you have a solo. For string students, outside desk players will normally play from library material (“real parts”), while practice copies are available to inside desk players.

When you are given music by a member of the O&E team, YOU are responsible for its condition and safe return at the end of use. At the end of the final concert music should ONLY be left on the stand or handed back to a member of the O&E team. Late return or loss of music will incur a fine. All parts should be brought to all rehearsals. In the event of absence from a rehearsal for any reason, music must be sent into RNCM as early as possible for the use of a desk partner or a dep (it is not your responsibility to find a dep).

Absence Requests

A properly completed Absence Request Form must be submitted, via email, to OandE@rncm.ac.uk for all absences from college during term time, whether they clash with a project or not, including weekend and evening absences.

Illness

If you are unwell and need to miss a rehearsal you must inform a member of the O&E team via phone call before the start of the rehearsal. If there is no answer, please text and someone will get in contact. Marking yourself absent on ASIMUT is not acceptable for O&E projects. This is in line with professional practice. In some cases, absence through illness may affect your involvement in a project.

Student Requests

Students may make a request (either to their Head of School, or to a member of the Orchestras & Ensembles team) to be involved in a particular project or concert, and where possible these requests will be accommodated. However, there is no guarantee that a request will result in an allocation, and requests will not be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Feedback / Comments

If you have any feedback regarding allocations, you are encouraged to talk to your Head of School or any member of the Orchestras & Ensembles team, and your comments will be treated confidentially. If you feel unable to talk to a member of staff, please contact a member of the Students’ Union. You may also make a request via your Head of School to see the spreadsheets which show the allocations for all ensembles, for all students.

Feedback (both positive and constructive) for all projects is also strongly encouraged – we have a project feedback form which can be accessed via the link below, so please do submit your opinions on all O&E projects to make your voice heard:

Project Feedback (rncm.ac.uk)

RNCM O&E Concert Dress Code

The RNCM O&E concert dress code is designed to reflect professional engagements as well as college activity and reflects wider professional practice. The three types of usual concert dress are listed below:

Smart Black

-          Smart all black (top half and bottom half)

-          All clothes must be entirely true black (nothing faded) Tops and bottoms should meet in the middle when standing or playing

-          Shoes – all black, but no casual shoes (e.g. trainers or flip flops) or casual sandals

Acceptable options include but not limited to: black tops /shirts / blouses; black dresses / skirts; black trousers (no jeans); black jackets / blazers

You must avoid: sportswear; jeans; trainers, sandals / flip flops; faded black

 

 Formal Black

-          Formal black attire

-          All clothes must be entirely true black (nothing faded). Tops and bottoms should meet in the middle when standing or playing

-          Shoes – formal black shoes, no casual shoes (trainers) or casual sandals

-          Plain black socks / black tights

-          All hair accessories should be black

Options include but not limited to: evening gowns/dresses; black suits; evening trousers / suit trousers / tailored trousers; evening skirts; shirts / blouses; black neck ties, waistcoats; jackets / blazers

You must avoid: sportswear; jeans; trainers, sandals / flip flops; faded black

 Non-Standard Performances

On occasion (e.g. Family Day, Young Explorers and other RNCM Creative Engagement concerts / collaborations etc.) variations of the Smart Black dress code may be required.

Details of any specific changes / requirements will be communicated at an appropriate time.