Big Noise has a Big Sister

Renowned Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti is to become involved with the groundbreaking Big Noise orchestra in Stirling's Raploch. Sistema Scotland, the charity behind Big Noise, announced the relationship on the day the BBC broadcasts a documentary about the orchestra - Big Noise in a Wee Place.

Nicola, whose new CDis at number 1 in the classical charts, will be a regular visitor to Raploch, playing for and working with the children.

"Venezuela's El Sistema has caused a lot of excitement and I was absolutely thrilled and proud when I heard an orchestra had started in Scotland," she said.  "Sistema Scotland and its Big Noise orchestra are demolishing barriers and taking classical music to a whole new audience. That's something I
feel passionately about so I just had to get involved. I can't wait to meet the
children."

Sistema Scotland chairman Richard Holloway said: "Nicola Benedetti is one of the biggest stars in classical
music. She is the perfect inspirational figure for the children, and we are extremely pleased she is becoming involved.

"We know she has a busy work schedule, so we are most grateful to her for making this commitment."

Some of the Big Noise children have already seen the violinist perform at a Proms in the Park concert in Glasgow. Her relationship with the
orchestra will involve playing for the children and giving occasional master classes. It is also hoped she can perform alongside them at Big Noise concerts.

Richard Holloway said: "The children themselves will help choose a name for the role. We want to honour Nicola for her wonderful achievements in music, as well as using her to inspire our children. As an honoured visiting artist we hope she will be something of a
musical big sister for the orchestra."

The Big Noise orchestra is the first of its kind in the UK and is modelled on Venezuela's hugely successful El
Sistema movement, which produced conductor Gustavo Dudamel. He has just taken up the post of Musical Director at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and is Sistema
Scotland's patron.

The orchestra programme aims to
use music making to foster confidence, teamwork, pride and aspiration in the children taking part - and across their wider community. It currently works in
Raploch with over 250 children a week.

Big Noise in a Wee Place follows the first year of the Stirling
orchestra and will be broadcast on BBC Two Scotland at 9.15pm on Monday October
12.

Sistema Scotland and the Big Noise Orchestra were set up with funding from the Scottish Arts Council (including cash from the National Lottery), BBC Children in Need and a number of charitable trusts and private donors including the Paul Hamlyn Foundation,
Esme Fairbairn Trust and others.

The Millenium String Quartet from
Venezuela is visiting Raploch this week to work with the children and their
teachers. The players will also take part in an international conference on
Friday and Saturday, which has attracted delegates interested in Big Noise from
as far afield as Columbia, New Zealand, Portugal, Syria and Spain.

Friday June 27 2008

Venezuelan phenomenon makes a Big Noise in Raploch

Children from Stirling’s Raploch estate performed alongside some of Scotland’s finest classical musicians today, in a community concert launching a groundbreaking musical and social phenomenon to the UK.

Venezuela’s “El Sistema” orchestra movement has touched the lives of thousands of children since its founder, Maestro José Antonio Abreu began giving music lessons in a Caracas carpark over 30 years ago.

Now his methods will be employed in Raploch in an orchestra called “Big Noise”.

Dr Richard Holloway, chairman of Sistema Scotland, the charity set up to bring the idea to Scotland said: “I have seen the astonishing difference these orchestras have made in Venezuela. I am convinced they can have an equally seismic effect here.”    
 
Sistema Scotland director Nicola Killean said:  “The idea is extraordinarily simple. It is an orchestra in which every child has a place. We will never ever turn a child away. A child who can’t rely on other things in its life will always be able to rely on this orchestra.”

“Many here come from stable supportive homes and are growing up well adjusted and happy. Some have more challenging backgrounds. Big Noise is all about teaching the children that they all have a contribution to make - both to the orchestra and to life.  We can provide them with an environment where they can aspire, work at something, be challenged and feel part of things.”

From Monday June 30 and throughout the holidays, a musical summer school will run in Raploch Community Campus, with the intention of forming first a string orchestra, and ultimately a full symphony orchestra. The Big Noise orchestra will grow with children currently in Primaries 1, 2 and 3, following them up through school and recruiting new younger ones every year.

There are plans to open further Big Noise orchestra centres in other parts of Scotland over the coming years.

The difference from traditional music tuition is that the children learn together rather than practicing on their own. The programme is immersive and intensive, with each element of learning focused on becoming part of the orchestra, whilst using the orchestra to learn about life. It is all about the ensemble.

Today’s concert was introduced by Linda Fabiani, the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, who said: “The Big Noise Orchestra is a wonderful example of how music can transform lives.  This Orchestra will play an extremely positive role in Raploch.

“Sistema Scotland is an ambitious project with an innovative approach to music tuition. In other parts of the world the programme has produced  world class talent so I’m delighted to see the model working in Scotland - who knows, perhaps there’s a future Nicola Benedetti here today in Stirling?  I look forward to celebrating the talent that will bud and grow from Sistema Scotland.”

Stirling’s Provost Fergus Wood said: “The people of the Raploch are embracing this project wholeheartedly, which is allowing the younger members of the community a chance to experience the joy of playing music.  As a musician myself, I know that the children can only benefit by learning how to play a musical instrument and the satisfaction and sense of achievement that it brings.”
 
Richard Holloway added: “Raploch is a place with a certain reputation which we, as an organisation,  have found to be not entirely accurate.  The people we have encountered have been enthusiastic and welcoming.  As we see the potential of these children bursting out of them today, it would be great to think that soon they and their orchestra will be compelling ambassadors for this community, and that it won’t be long before the mention of Raploch  conjures up an image not of controversy and deprivation, but of a place alive with the sound of music. Raploch is full of people on the move - with or without us - but we are delighted that they have invited us to join them on the great journey into a new future they are starting today.”

The process of stimulating interest in the scheme began in earnest at the end of April when players from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra visited Raploch to play for children from Our Lady’s Primary, Raploch Primary and Castleview Primary. The orchestra has taken on the role of “performance partner’ and will be involved in inspiring the children. The day before the Raploch launch the full BBC SSO performed a special concert in its home at Glasgow City Halls, for the Raploch community. Children and parents from the estate travelled to experience the thrill of a full symphony orchestra.
 
Players from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra were also performing alongside the children today, as were older young people from the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, showing the route of progress today's beginners could take.

Over the last few weeks the six musicians recruited to work with the children have been playing around Raploch to get themselves known in the community. Impromptu performances have taken place in the street, at the bingo, during church services and at the McDonald’s restaurant.

For further information contact George Anderson
on 07900 891 691

Notes to Editors:

Sistema Scotland is supported by the Scottish Arts Council, BBC Scotland and Stirling Council.

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is the major performance partner of the Big Noise project. Individual musicians from within the BBC SSO will act as professional mentors to the young participants within Big Noise, while the full orchestra will act as a musical inspiration to the programme as a whole.
Sistema Scotland takes its name from the orchestra movement established in Venezuela in 1975 by Maestro José Antonio Abreu.

The full name of this South American phenomenon is 'Fundación del Estadopara el Sistema Nacional de las Orquestas Juveniles e Infantilesde Venezuela' (FESNOJIV).  As every region and major town in Venezuela now has its own orchestra, most people refer to it simply as “ElSistema” or “The Network”.

In 2006 a group from the UK visited Venezuela to find out more about this remarkable musical and social movement.

Dr Richard Holloway, then Chair of the Scottish Arts Council, was one of the party. Overwhelmed by what he saw, he came home determined to bring the idea to Scotland. A charity was founded to begin work on establishing the first orchestra of its kind in the UK. As in Venezuela, an orchestra that would transform lives, and turn no child away.

A further visit was made to Venezuela in 2007, along with representatives of the new charity’s partners and supporters, the Scottish Arts Council, BBC Scotland and Stirling Council. Talks were held about a formal partnership between FESNOJIV and the Scottish organisation.

In August 2007, the top El Sistema orchestra, the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, performed at Edinburgh International Festival. During the visit Maestro Abreu and Dr Holloway signed the historic agreement - and the new charity, by then known as Sistema Scotland, became officially part of the Sistema family.

The cutting-edge Leith Agency worked with members of the Raploch Community to come up with the orchestra’s name - Big Noise - and its colourful logo featuring children on various instruments.

Stirling Council is providing offices for Big Noise at 90 Drip Road, Raploch. These have been stylishly refitted by Graven Images with help and donations from a number of suppliers.

Six professional musicians have been recruited to work with the children of Raploch:

Violinist Joëlle Fenna studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where she gained her Honours degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Performance. Her freelance career as a Violinist has included chamber music performances on Radio 3 and several concerto performances with orchestras, amongst other chamber and orchestral work. She is the Scottish Chamber Orchestra's current Education Fellow.

Double bassist Alison Gornall studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and went on to graduate with distinction in her Postgraduate Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music in London. She  has worked as a freelance double bassist playing with many of the UK's leading orchestras. Alongside her playing Alison has been involved in a wide variety of teaching and educational projects.

Cellist Aimée Watt has played all over the world, including the Baltic States, Russia and Central Europe. She performs regularly with her piano trio, and with her string quartet as well as having a strong interest in Scottish traditional music. She has a wide range of experience working with young people.

Viola player, Robin Panter was a chorister at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral from the age of four, and was taught violin and piano by his mother. He went on to study the viola at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. A former member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, he worked regularly as an orchestral freelancer before joining the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He is currently training to be a Suzuki violin teacher.

Violinist Jennifer Nicholson is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.  She spent twelve years in Palermo, Italy with the Teatro Massimo opera orchestra. Qualified to work in the Kodaly method with pre-school and school children, Jennifer has been active in education with the National Youth Choir of Scotland and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

Cellist Helen McVey has a BA(Musical Studies) and Postgraduate Diploma in Performance. A successful freelance career has seen her play with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Opera amongst others.  Combining regular performing with developmental work in the field of education, Helen was appointed Education Manager for Children’s Classic Concerts where her workshop programme for nursery, primary and secondary schools helped Children’s Classic Concerts win a coveted 2007 award at Arts And Business.  Following the success of her post and further freelance education project work Helen was then appointed Development Officer (Part-time) for Enterprise Music Scotland, a post she still holds.  Future performances include the BBC Proms and the Tchaikovsky Rococco Variations as soloist in December.

Funders of the scheme include the Scottish Arts Council, and the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council, Children in Need, and some individual donors.