Maestro offers chance of a lifetime

Arts Correspondent

Wednesday 16 May 2012

More than 100 young musicians from across Scotland are being invited to work with one of the world's leading conductors.

INVITE: Children with an interest in music, such as the Rap-Tappers percussion group from Raploch, can join the workshop. Picture: Colin Mearns OPPORTUNITY: Young musicians can work with Gustavo Dudamel. OPPORTUNITY: Children with an interest in music, such as the Rap-Tappers percussion group from Raploch, can join the workshop with Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel.

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Phil Miller Arts Correspondent

Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel is a product of the ground-breaking El Sistema musical training system, which taught thousands of children in the poorest districts of his country how to play instruments.

And now the idea is being put into practice in Raploch, Stirling.

Dudamel will teach the young musicians for a day of practice and performance.Organised by the Big Noise project, the "Pop-Up Orchestra" under the baton of Dudamel, the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as the Simon Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, will play at the Stirling Albert Halls on June 19.Dudamel, 31, will be in Stirling for a week with the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra prior to the The Big Concert, an outdoor concert featuring his orchestra and the Big Noise orchestra on June 21, which will mark the opening of the London 2012 cultural festival. The Big Noise has put out invites through music teaching networks to children at around Grade 7 or above who wish to form the pop-up orchestra for a day's rehearsal before working with Dudamel.They are now looking for between 100 and 120 young musicians to perform in the orchestra. Fellow musicians, teachers and members of the public can also watch the orchestra as they rehearse and perform.Nicola Killean, the director and chief executive of the Big Noise, said the pop-up orchestra plan was part of the Big Noise's mission to bring the passion for music not only to Stirling but throughout Scotland.She said: "We are looking for young musicians who are really passionate about music and even those who may already be thinking of making music their career to apply for the pop-up orchestra."This is a one-off opportunity, very intensive, time to spend with a conductor as important as Gustavo, and we want to make the most of it."It will also be an opportunity for the older players in the Big Noise to meet with other young musicians."They have been working so hard for the concert, four nights a week, and it will be once in a lifetime experience for them, it's going to be amazing."Young musicians who wish to join the pop-up orchestra can apply to applications to events@bignoise.org.uk.The Big Concert will feature a full performance by the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra as well as a guest appearance by the Big Noise orchestra, the oldest of which are now 11 years old and in Primary 7.Other areas of Scotland also wish to launch their own Big Noise scheme, which teaches classical music in intensive classes, including Govanhill in Glasgow.

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Maestro offers chance of a lifetime

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