Forth Valley College Principal Dr Ken Thomson dropped in on Big Noise rehearsals this week (Tuesday 26 April) to officially welcome the orchestra to the Stirling Campus.
A total of 28 Big Noise members from the Raploch area - representing Wallace and St Modan’s High Schools and Our Lady’s and Raploch Primary Schools - were led by Big Noise Senior Musician John Paul O’Hagan. They are rehearsing for an upcoming summer trip to Italy and for the Big Noise birthday celebrations in Stirling’s Albert Halls on Sunday 26 June.
While in Italy they will perform at the Festival of Youth Orchestras held in the composer William Walton's estate 'La Mortella', on the island of Ischia and they will also play a second concert in Rome. Big Noise will also be performing at the World Conference of the International Society for Music Education, at the end of July in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Dr Thomson, said:
“It is a pleasure to welcome the Big Noise orchestra to our Stirling Campus. They are such an inspirational group of young people and we are delighted to have them here for rehearsals. The work of the Sistema Scotland charity and their Big Noise orchestras is very important and they undoubtedly change the lives of young people across the country.”
Colin McKerchar, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Sistema Scotland, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Forth Valley College for allowing us to use these fantastic facilities. Children from Big Noise Raploch have been using the space provided to rehearse for our birthday celebrations, which are to be held in June. We are also fortunate we have the opportunity to help the children practice for our special musical trip to Italy this year, where the children from Big Noise Raploch will have a week long education stay on the island of Ischia. We look forward to working with our partners Forth Valley College in the future.”
Sistema Scotland is a charity on a mission to create permanent social change in some of the most deprived communities in Scotland. They use participation in their Big Noise orchestras programmes to change lives by fostering confidence, discipline, teamwork, pride and aspiration in the children and young people taking part. This enables the children and young people to reach their full potential, leading successful and fulfilled lives. This philosophy has a knock on effect for their families and the wider community in general.
Their teams provide an intensive orchestral programme for school-age children and young people. They use a variety of immersive music teaching methods delivered during school time, after school and during the school holidays. Sistema also provide opportunities for growth such as trips and residentials. Regular performances help to keep the wider community as involved as possible. There is no charge for the tuition, instruments, healthy snacks, trips and t-shirts.