Masterclass hits all the high notes
Big Noise Raploch and its sister centre, Big Noise Fallin, have ended 2022 on a high note with a range of winter celebrations culminating in an amazing evening performance at Stirling’s Church of the Holy Rude.
As the year draws to a close, the concert was a perfect opportunity to celebrate a successful and busy year for Big Noise across Stirling and look forward to an exciting 2023, which will see the 15th birthday of the original Big Noise programme in Raploch.
Big Noise Fallin, which was only established in autumn 2021, achieved a bronze award at the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships at the end of November.
This was followed in early December by a performance at Fallin’s Christmas lights ceremony.
Older counterparts at Big Noise Raploch have been playing alongside the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, with performances in both Edinburgh’s Usher Hall and Perth Concert Hall in the past month.
At the concert in the Church of the Holy Rude, orchestras from Big Noise Raploch treated their audience to special renditions of Mozart’s Apollo and Hyacinth, a selection of music from Danny Elfman’s Nightmare Before Christmas, and the Christmas classic Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.
Big Noise is a high-quality music education and social change programme which supports children and young people to gain vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, teamwork, creativity and aspiration. Through music and nurturing relationships, from infancy to adulthood, Big Noise supports participants’ wellbeing and helps them reach their full potential. The programme also aims to strengthen the communities where it is based, developing relationships with participants and their families based on mutual respect, trust and a commitment to work together and tackle inequalities for the long term.
Recent independent evaluation of the Big Noise model by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health has shown that children and young people who took part in Big Noise Raploch are more likely to achieve positive post-school outcomes and are more likely to be in employment than those who have not participated in the programme. Previous evaluation of the Big Noise model has also shown that taking part in Big Noise helps children to improve their concentration and language skills, enhance their problem solving and decision-making, increase their self-esteem and develop strong friendships and support networks.
Big Noise Raploch and Big Noise Fallin are delivered by the charity Sistema Scotland, which runs Big Noise programmes supporting around 3,500 children and young people across Scotland. The two local projects are delivered in partnership with Stirling Council and local nursery, primary and secondary schools, supported by a wide array of public and private funders, including players of People’s Postcode Lottery and the Scottish Government.
Vicky Williams, head of centre for Big Noise Raploch and Fallin, said: “The success of Big Noise Raploch and Big Noise Fallin is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the children and young people who take part.
“We are extremely proud of our participants and the progress that they have made in the past year. We are also delighted to be able to host our winter concerts in the community again.
“We’d like to extend a special thanks to all the parents, carers and families of our participants, and to the fantastic communities of Raploch and Fallin for their continued support.
“We’d also like to thank our partner schools and nurseries, who make Big Noise possible.”
We are extremely proud of our participants and the progress that they have made in the past year Vicky Williams