May 15, 2008
Life Changing Venezuelan Idea Comes to Stirling

As a South American visionary is honored in London by the Royal Philharmonic Society - plans are well underway for his ideas to be implemented in Scotland this summer.

Maestro José Antonio Abreu’s El Sistema network of youth orchestras has transformed the lives of children from the barrios of his native Venezuela.

Now, for the first time outside of South America, his methods are to be used  in the Raploch estate in Stirling.

Six professional musicians have been recruited and are currently training in Venezuela. They will return to start a summer school for Primary 1,2 and 3 pupils in Raploch from June 30, and continue working with children when the new school year starts.

A new charity, Sistema Scotland, has the backing of El Sistema in Venezuela.

Dr Richard Holloway, Chair of Sistema Scotland said: “The experience in Venezuela is that the structure of a symphony orchestra offers the chance for everyone to play their part, be challenged and learn together. It is a core activity which touches the entire community. Everyone is welcomed, accepted and contributes. These orchestras grow children’s emotional intelligence, respect, understanding and empathy for one another. Their social skills, confidence, aspiration and drive are developed.”

The charity has an impressive array of supporters and partners including the BBC, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Arts Council and Stirling Council.

Stirling Council's Portfolio holder for the Community, Alistair MacPherson said: “This new initiative in Stirling will allow the people of the Raploch community to participate in this unique opportunity, which will benefit future generations. Stirling Council is both honoured and proud to be involved in with the Sistema project, that will further enhance the regeneration of Raploch.”
 
 Sistema Scotland aims to have started three Big Noise orchestra centres in Scotland by 2013.

The first aim in Raploch is to establish a string orchestra made up of Primary 1,2 and 3 children. The orchestra will grow with these children as they move through school, and recruit from new intakes each year. By the third year the aim is to have introduced all of the instruments of a Symphony orchestra - brass, woodwind, strings and percussion.

The summer school will run Monday to Friday every morning throughout the holidays. Breakfast will be provided while the children listen to live performances. Then they make music themselves before parents and carers are invited in for the last half hour of the day to see and hear how it is all going.

The key difference from traditional music education is that the children have fun learning together rather than going off to practice on their own.

Dr Holloway continued: “We are particularly excited that the schools in Raploch have agreed that the new intake of children into Primary 1 after the summer will have three hours of music making with us as part of the curriculum. The schools have been quick to see the impact this idea can have not just musically, but on social and emotional development.”

The Big Noise programme is based on four fundamental learning paradigms of El Sistema: Learn to Be; Learn to Know; Learn to Live To Live Together; and Learn to Do.

Six professional musicians have been recruited to help start the Raploch orchestra, and are currently in Venezuela learning about El Sistema.

Cellist Helen McVey has worked with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Opera. She is due to perform at the BBC Proms later this year at the Royal Albert Hall.

Violinist Jennifer Nicholson played for 12 years in Italy’s Teatro Massimo opera orchestra. She has worked in education with the National Youth Choir of Scotland and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

Viola player Robin Panter was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, and worked regularly as an orchestral freelancer before taking a job with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Joelle Fenna has had a varied career as a violinist, music leader, teacher and project manager. She is the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s current Education Fellow.  Her freelance career has included chamber music performances on Radio 3.

Alison Gornall is a freelance double-bassist who has worked with many of the UK’s leading orchestras, and is also an experienced music educator.

Cellist Aimee Watt has played all over the world, including the Baltic States, Russia and Central Europe. She performs regularly with her piano trio, and with her string quartet as well as having a strong interest in Scottish traditional music. She has a wide range of experience working with young people.

José Antonio Abreu will be presented with Honorary Membership of the Royal Philharmonic Society, at this year’s Royal Philharmonic Society [RPS] Music Awards in London on the evening of 15 May.  Maestro Abreu is only the 123rd recipient of this distinguished award, given for services to music, since the election of Carl Maria von Weber in 1823.

For further information on Sistema Scotland contact George Anderson on 07900 891691.

Further press information on the RPS Music Awards from:
Sophie Cohen on 020 7428 9850  07711 551 787
sophiecohen@blueyonder.co.uk 

www.rpsmusicawards.com
www.royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk

¦ Main Page ¦