The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Big Noise as battle to bring Sistema to city ends in victory
Primary school pupils will be given free music tuition
A pioneering music project that will help transform the lives of children in some of Dundee’s poorest communities was officially launched yesterday.
Around 400 children from St Pius and Claypotts Castle primary schools will be among the first to take part in the Big Noise Douglas programme, which aims to raise the ambition and confidence of children.
The youngsters will be given free music tuition throughout their school life and the programme will grow each year as each fresh intake of primary one pupils joins.
The Dundee orchestra, run by Sistema Scotland, will be the charity’s fourth in Scotland, following those in Raploch in Stirling, Govanhill in Glasgow and Torry in Aberdeen.
The Perth-based Gannochy Trust has awarded the Dundee project £325,000 to support it over its first three years.
A logo for Big Noise Douglas featuring Beano favourites the Bash Street Kids was also unveiled at the launch concert.
Children were enthralled as the musicians performed a variety of music, from classical pieces to themes from Harry Potter and, raising the loudest cheer, the Imperial March from Star Wars.
Dundee singer songwriter Michael Marra was one of the first to call for the orchestra to be established in Dundee and the first fundraising began with a collection at his funeral in 2012. The charity Optimistic Sound was set up afterwards to raise cash for the project.
Michael’s daughter Alice attended the launch and said: “This is probably one of the proudest days of my life.
“It’s been almost five years of this campaign and lots of fundraising and sometimes not believing it would ever happen so to be here and see all the musicians and children in these T-shirts is just amazing.”
Richard Holloway, chairman of Sistema Scotland, said it is hoped the project will improve the lives of generations of children in Douglas.
He said: “We believe that the orchestra and making music is a community that produces hope, ambition and joy.
“The musicians bring a great explosion of joy and creativity into the schools.”
Children and families services director Paul Clancy said: “This will build on what we are already doing in the city and there is evidence to show that aspiration levels and confidence levels will change.”