Scottish Ensemble brings young talent on board for residency

Events: Group will perform at Ninewells and on the Unicorn

The Scottish Ensemble residency has begun in Angus and Dundee featuring an array of events from meditation sessions with cancer patients to a public concert on board the frigate Unicorn.

The ensemble is the UK’s leading string orchestra and the latest programme is its fifth residency in the city.

Led by artistic director Jonathan Morton, the ensemble began its residency programme with a weekend workshop at Brechin Community Campus for around 80 school children, organised in partnership with Dundee and Angus Instrumental Services.

The young string musicians, aged from 12 to 18, spent the day working on a new piece commissioned by SE.

Tempest, by modern composer James Redwood, has been written specifically so it can be played by musicians at a variety of levels and the day ended in a performance for family and friends, with some of the participants also invited to perform the piece in full on the Caird Hall stage alongside Scottish Ensemble on Wednesday.

The residency continues this evening aboard HM Frigate Unicorn, when the ensemble will be joined by folk duo Chris Stout (fiddle) and Catriona McKay (harp) for an evening of music inspired by the sea.

Tomorrow meditation and performance sessions will be held in partnership with the Maggie’s Centre, with another group of SE players setting up at Ninewells Hospital to perform music across a variety of wards.

Wednesday’s closing concert will be staged at the Caird Hall in Dundee, with an emphasis on North American music.

It will be opened by a performance of the new commission by James Redwood, when members of Dundee Symphony Orchestra will join in.

Picture: Andy Thompson. Musicians in rehearsals for a performance at Brechin Community Campus.