PUPILS MAKE SOME NOISE
Raploch musicians head to India for a once-in-alifetime trip
Young musicians from Big Noise programmes in Scotland, including Raploch, recently returned from an unforgettable journey to India.
After a week-long residency in Chennai, the young musicians took to the stage at the Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, for the highly anticipated Concert for Friendship.
Performing alongside them were young Indian musicians from A R Rahman’s Sunshine Orchestra in Nagaland and students from the KM Music Conservatory in Chennai.
The concert featured popular works by Puccini and Beethoven, as well as Scottish and Carnatic melodies, and Naga and Tamil folk songs.
The trip was supported by the British Council, and the Concert for Friendship marked the end of their year-long India/uk Together Season of Culture, celebrating the rich musical traditions and cultural bonds between both countries.
Twelve young people, aged 15-18, from Big Noise programmes, including eight participants from Raploch in Stirling and four participants from Govanhill in Glasgow took part.
During their residency week in India the young musicians, accompanied by four Big Noise teachers, were part of a wider outreach programme, visiting a local school and university to deliver music workshops and learn about South Indian culture. They also attended a busy schedule of rehearsals at the KM Music Conservatory in preparation for the concert.
The collaboration aimed to explore musical ideas and provide an opportunity for the exchange of cultures between the young people taking part. For the young people from Big Noise Raploch and Big Noise Govanhill this was a profound experience – providing the opportunity not only to demonstrate their musical talent on an international stage, but to connect with young people from different cultures and act as ambassadors for their own communities.
Big Noise is a music education and social change programme, where the symphony orchestra becomes a community which supports children and young people to gain vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, 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.
The Big Noise programme is delivered by the charity Sistema Scotland and works with over 3,500 young people across Scotland. Big Noise Raploch and Big Noise Govanhill are delivered in partnership with local councils and additionally supported by a wide range of public and private funders, including the Scottish Government and players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Shannon, a participant at Big Noise Raploch, said: “I loved experiencing Indian culture – the food, the people, the music. Just like in Scotland, the passion for music is massive over there. They’re all about their music, and so are we.
“The music itself is quite different to what we’re used to, but the way they feel about it and how they go about it is just the same as we do.
“At first it was a little difficult to
get used to playing with the Indian musicians, because it was so different from anything we’ve experienced before, but as time went on we all got closer, made new friends, and loved playing music together. We had a dance party one night and we were teaching the Indian students Scottish ceilidh dancing, it was brilliant.
“We’ve been messaging our new friends in India since we left – I hope we keep in touch.”
Scott, another participant at Big Noise Raploch, said: “It’s hard to choose a favourite part of the trip, because it was all so fantastic – but the concert at the end of the week was really special. It was a huge venue, the biggest one I’ve ever played in.
“It was great to play in such a massive orchestra with so many fantastic players. Indian music was completely new to me when we went over there, so it was quite difficult to play at first – but it all came together the more we rehearsed and the closer we got as a group.”
Nicola Killean, CEO of Sistema Scotland, said: “The opportunity to travel internationally, representing their communities, is a major milestone for the young people and is testimony to their hard work and dedication over many years.
“We are overjoyed that our young people were given the opportunity to embark on this exciting journey and unforgettable experience, and most grateful for the support from the British Council, KM Music Conservatory and the AR Rahman Foundation to enable this to happen.”