BBC Radio 3 will air SSO Campbeltown concert
‘We are excited to have the orchestra join us for a week in Campbeltown’
A BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) concert at Victoria Hall in October will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Following its run on The Proms, at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the BBC SSO will take up a week-long residency, with many free events and recitals, in and around Campbeltown from September 29 to October 4. The Victoria Hall concert features a live 80-piece orchestra. The programme for the concert includes, Scottish composer Helen Grime’s piece ‘Snow from Two Eardly Pictures’ inspired by a Joan Eardley painting, Britten’s ‘Four Sea Interludes’ from Peter Grimes, and Mussorgsky’s much-loved ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ conducted by renowned Scottish conductor Rory MacDonald. The residency will include community events plus school workshops in Campbeltown, the surrounding area and on the Isle of Gigha. The orchestra’s action-packed week includes a ‘come and sing’ session, workshops and performances. Musicians from Campbeltown Grammar School (CGS) will receive performance masterclasses and workshops. Pupils will also have the chance to perform alongside BBC SSO players, providing participants with valuable opportunities to work with professional musicians. Pupils from primary schools including: Castlehill, Dalintober, Carradale, Drumlemble, and Gigha will receive creative music workshops, musical assemblies and a special performance from the orchestra. In addition to this there will be sessions with BBC Scotland’s L.A.B. digital education initiative. James Murdoch, head of music at CGS, said: ‘We are excited to have the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra join us for a week in Campbeltown. ‘In particular we are looking forward to learning and performing with the orchestra during the residency – certainly a one-off experience for our pupils. ‘Beyond the musical benefit is the wider creative and aspirational model which the orchestra promotes. ‘It will have an influence on anyone looking to progress in music and creative industries.’ Gigha primary head Julie Wilson added: ‘Gigha Primary School and Pre-Five Unit are absolutely delighted to be welcoming BBC SSO to our isle of stories. ‘Children from Gigha, Rhunahaorine, Glenbarr and Clachan will gain unprecedented access to high quality arts input designed to inspire creativity and commitment to classical music. ‘This is an incredible opportunity, to raise their aspirations about careers in the arts sector and to open up new worlds of musical learning and enjoyment.’ Pupils from CGS will be working, with Templar Arts and Leisure Centre, Tarbert (TALC) and the BBC SSO, to create animations and posters for the residency, using a musical theme to explore their experiences of living in Campbeltown. The residency is presented by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra with support from Argyll and Bute Council and the Creative Arts in Schools Team. For more on this story see page 22.