Aberdeen primary school kids gained VIP access to RSNO Christmas Concert with special screening of classic animation

Forty children from Big Noise in Torry received privileged access to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s (RSNO) final rehearsal of this year’s Christmas Concert at Aberdeen’s Music Hall on Thursday, courtesy of Total E&P UK Ltd.

The children witnessed the final run-through before the first performance of the concerts, which featured a screening of Raymond Briggs’ classic animation The Snowman complete with live orchestral accompaniment. Before the rehearsal the children were welcomed by RSNO musicians as well as narrator for The Snowman, Scottish actor Georgie Glen (Waterloo Road, Les Misérables, Mrs Brown, Calendar Girls).

The VIP access was part of a raft of activities developed in partnership with Sistema Scotland.  Big Noise Torry is delivered in partnership with Aberdeen City Council.  The initiative aims to equip children with confidence and resilience to succeed across all areas of their lives. The RSNO joined Sistema Scotland as its orchestra in the North East last August, thanks to valuable support from energy group TOTAL E&P UK Ltd.

Since August the RSNO and Big Noise Torry have presented Instrument Petting Zoos for both Walker Road and Tullos Primary Schools, where young children can interact with musicians and orchestral instruments, with many youngsters getting to play an instrument for the first time. Walker Road Primary School also ‘adopted’ a RSNO musician, where RSNO cellist Ruth Rowlands visited the school each month to engage with the pupils. Similarly Tullos Primary School adopted RSNO viola Katherine Wren. RSNO musicians also participated in the Big Noise Torry after-school clubs.

Big Noise Torry Team Leader Laura Horn said: “Our aim is to give the children of Torry the very best musical experience we can. It is fantastic to have this relationship with one of the finest professional orchestras in the UK. We are grateful to Total E&P UK Limited for making it possible.”

RSNO Director of Learning and Engagement Jenn Adams: “We are delighted to be able to support the work of Big Noise Torry as we both consider music an intrinsic part of a young person’s development.  By providing these opportunities for young people we help provide the starting point of a lifelong musical journey. We might even be welcoming our young VIPs to the RSNO as professional musicians in the future.”

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http://www.rsno.org.uk/big-noise-kids-sneak-a-peek-at-snowman/