The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Budding musicians to join Benedetti in Dundee event
Super Strings Sessions fostering collaboration, nurturing artistic talent, and empowering young people
Hundreds of young musicians across Scotland are to join violinist Nicola Benedetti in a series of events, culminating in a show in Dundee.
The Super Strings Sessions will see around 350 budding musicians have the opportunity to play alongside the 31-year-old.
Children and teachers from the four Big Noise centres in Dundee, Stirling, Glasgow and Aberdeen are forming oneoff string ensembles at the events.
The project will culminate with a Festival of Strings Day at the Caird Hall on October 9.
Ms Benedetti, announcing the programme in Aberdeen, said: “I am extremely excited to be working with young people right across the country including children who already attend Big Noise.
“By attending the sessions, children and young people will not only have fun and make new friends but they will also learn to collaborate.
“I will be working to help improve their playing technique, freedom of expression and command of their instrument so that each element combines individually, and within an ensemble, to create the fullest sound possible.”
More than 2,500 children attend the Big Noise programme at its centres each week.
During the sessions participants will have the opportunity to play in an ensemble led by Nicola, perform with her, and be involved in a question and answer discussion about string playing.
They will work with their peers from across the country and share their experiences and opinions on making music in Scotland, and what role they can have in shaping music-making for young people in the future.
At the Festival of Strings in Dundee all young people will have the opportunity to play along in an ensemble led by Nicola Benedetti and experience a performance by her before joining together to enjoy a Super Strings moment.
Nicola Killean, chief executive of Sistema Scotland, said: “Young people coming together from each of our Big Noise centres, and being able to join together with other young string players from across Scotland and make music and share experiences, is a fantastic way to celebrate our 10th birthday.
“The objectives of the Super Strings Sessions are three-fold.
“The first is social. We want to nurture collaboration among the young people and help them to develop networks.
“Second is artistic. Nicola Benedetti will help the children to create a Big Sound by giving them techniques to express themselves while playing and take command of their instrument.
“Finally, empowerment. We are holding workshops with some of the children to help develop a shared voice for young string players in Scotland so that they can have their say on improvements for the future.
“Nicola Benedetti is a wonderful supporter of Big Noise and she is a fantastic role model for our young people to aspire to. Big Noise children are really looking forward to working, playing and learning from their ‘Big Sister’, alongside young string players from right across Scotland who may be learning through their local music service.”