An opportunity for individuals, organisations and communities to host the UK’s only professional string orchestra comes to the region in May.
Following their outstanding performance at this year’s Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, the Scottish Ensemble will make a return visit next year to deliver their first residency as part of an on-going education and outreach programme organised by the Festival.
The Scottish Ensemble will come to the region from 25 to 28 May 2016 and are looking for venues and promoters to get involved and bring the music of this top professional string orchestra to the region’s communities.
Based in Glasgow, this renowned orchestra is built around a core of 12 string players who perform together under artistic director and violinist Jonathan Morton. Established in 1969, the ensemble has performed on most of the large stages in Scotland and also presents a series of concerts at London’s Wigmore Hall each year.
The ensemble’s education and outreach programme aims to engage communities with their music and encourage people who may be unfamiliar with their work to come along to their concerts. The four-day residencies have included: late-night events, pop-up performances, masterclasses, coaching sessions, free community performances, collaborative cross-genre projects, and participatory events including tea dances and ceilidhs.
Throughout the four days in Dumfries and Galloway, the group will be out and about, making music with local people, and are looking to create events and opportunities with venues and promoters across the region.
These could take the form of a performance in restaurants, pubs, cafes and galleries; pop-up flash mobs in shopping centres; chamber music performances in community centres, care homes and hospitals; a living room concert in a private home; led workshops in primary schools and secondary schools; or providing the soundtracks for a film.
Any individual or organisation who wishes to be part of this residency or would like to host an event is asked to contact Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival by Friday, 18 December to discuss ideas. Plans will be refined in early 2016
The 2016 SE Residency will culminate in a concert of expressive and exotic works by Debussy and Ravel on Friday, 27 May at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries.
SCOTTISH ENSEMBLE OUTREACH PROGRAMME FOR DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
