YOUNG people from Torry in Aberdeen performed alongside the world-renowned Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) in a special concert at the city’s Music Hall.
A total of 20 young musicians from the music and social change programme Big Noise Torry performed side-by-side with the RSNO recently.
The joint orchestra, led by the RSNO’s Japanese conductor Nodoka Okisawa, performed ‘Change Is Coming’ by Lisa Robertson, a Nordic-themed piece inspired by environmentalism and the connection between Scotland, the Nordic countries, and their shared relationship with nature.
The piece was written by Robertson following conversations with young people from Big Noise Torry’s sister programme in Govanhill, who told her about their feelings on climate change and their desire to make their voices heard.
The concert gave the young participants an opportunity to play alongside accomplished professional musicians as part of Scotland’s national orchestra, while demonstrating their musical skills to friends and family.
Big Noise is a high-quality music education and social change programme, which launched in Raploch in 2008. It sees children and young people learn music after school, creating a community symphony orchestra which supports them in gaining vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity, and aspiration.
There are now six centres supporting almost 4,000 children and young people across Scotland, including Raploch and Fallin in Stirling, Govanhill in Glasgow, Douglas in Dundee, Torry in Aberdeen, and Wester Hailes in Edinburgh.
Big Noise is designed to strengthen the communities where it is based, developing relationships with participants and their families based on mutual respect, trust and a commitment to working together and tackling inequalities for the long term.
Through music and nurturing relationships, from infancy to adulthood, Big Noise supports participants’ wellbeing and helps them reach their full potential.
A long-term evaluation of the model by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) was published in 2022. It found that 98 per cent of Big Noise participants in Raploch went on to a positive post-school destination.
Vicky Williams, chief executive of Sistema Scotland, said:
“It has been a joy to witness our young musicians share the stage with the RSNO in such a remarkable performance. To see them perform at one of Scotland’s most distinguished venues with one of the country’s most prestigious orchestras has been fantastic.
“We are incredibly proud of what our young people have achieved tonight, and it is a testament to the hard work and determination that they show day in, day out at Big Noise.
“We are deeply grateful to the RSNO for their continued collaboration with Big Noise Torry and our other programmes across Scotland. My thanks also go to the parents, carers and partner schools whose support makes this work possible.”
Andy Stevenson, RSNO Director of Engagement, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have the young musicians from Big Noise Torry join the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for this side-by-side performance in Aberdeen’s Music Hall. The young people are so full of talent and enthusiasm, it’s hard not to come away with a big smile on your face after having seen them perform, and I know how much the musicians of the Orchestra really enjoy playing alongside the young musicians, too. It’s fantastic to be able to help facilitate the creation of music written specially for the Big Noise participants and support emerging composers such as Lisa Robertson.
“Our partnership with Sistema Scotland is a real privilege and highlight of my job. I look forward to these side-by-side performances continuing in our upcoming Season and beyond and seeing where their musical journeys will take these young people in the future.”
Noel, aged 13, who was playing violin with the joint orchestra, said:
“It was a really enjoyable playing with the RSNO, and I had great fun playing the ‘Change Is Coming’ piece.
“It was great to learn from the musicians there, and learn all about the differences in harmonics and melodies from them – it was really different to what I’m used to!
“It’s always great fun to be in a venue like that and get to play music with a totally new group of people.”
Auria, aged 13, who was also performing in the concert, said:
“I found the concert very enjoyable. Even just sitting and listening to the RSNO play after we had finished was really fun, and I loved hearing them play the piece by Debussy.
“We’ve played a couple of big stages like this before, so we’re almost getting used to it now, but it was great to play in such a big orchestra.”
