Big Noise hits the high notes
Children play for First Minister
Children from Big Noise Raploch were pitch perfect for the First Minister at the Scottish Parliament last week.
Holyrood echoed to the music of Pirates of the Caribbean and the Skye Boat Song when children from Big Noise centres across Scotland performed together for the first time for Nicola Sturgeon and cross party MSPs at a special 10th birthday reception.
It was compèred by writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson, board member of Sistema Scotland, and told the story of Big Noise through musical performances, songs and interviews featuring more than 80 children from the four Big Noise centres: Raploch ; Govanhill; Torry (Aberdeen) and Douglas (Dundee).
Sistema Scotland, the charity which runs the Big Noise programmes, was launched by Richard Holloway in Raploch in 2008 with 35 children. Delivered in partnership with Stirling Council, it now has almost 500 members ranging from babies through to S6 and across the country more than 2,500 children take part in the programme every week.
Big Noise uses the symphony orchestra and learning as tools to equip children, particularly those in deprived communities, with a wide range of social and life skills including confidence, resilience and aspiration.
The reception was sponsored by Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford. He put forward a motion in the Scottish Parliament, which received cross party support, commending the work of Sistema Scotland and the Big Noise programme.
The First Minister, who gave a keynote speech at the reception, also joined the children, their families, MSPs and guests to sing The Hello Song, which is the first music children learn when they start the programme.
Sally Magnusson interviewed children from Raploch Lower Brass Ensemble: Symone Hutchison (16) and Jade Campbell (14), (both trombone); Tommy Hill (16) and Ben Morrison (13) (both tuba) and Patrick Hutchison (16) trombone.
Raploch Lower Brass Ensemble were among the performers and Lewis Sinclair (18) from Big Noise Raploch delighted guests with a solo finale of the Skye Boat song on oboe. Lewis is the first Big Noise musician to be offered a place to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.
Mr Crawford said: “The work Sistema Scotland do in areas of multiple deprivation makes a huge difference to children, families and communities.
“Their strive for social transformation through an inclusive programme of music is an inspirational idea that has been proven to work in many areas of individual development. I look forward to many more successful years of Big Noise.”
And Green MSP and former Stirling councillor Mark Ruskell described the project as “probably the most far reaching and successful social cohesion project we have in Scotland today.”
He added: “I recently visited the Raploch Community Campus to see Big Noise in action. Even on a quiet day Big Noise was a hive of activity, rooms bustling with practice sessions, children of all ages working together, everyone of every ability had a role, a focus, a discipline.”