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| New partnership secures future for family concert series |
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New partnership secures future for family concert series
RSNO and Children’s Classic Concerts to work together from October, bringing music for families to audiences in Glasgow and Edinburgh
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) and Children’s Classic Concerts (CCC) today (Wednesday 11 August) announce an agreement which will see Scotland’s national symphony orchestra becoming the sole orchestra for CCC’s orchestral concerts in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
For the past fifteen years CCC has delivered high-quality, entertaining, orchestral events for families in Scotland. More recently, CCC performances have been presented by the multiple award-winning pairing Owen Gunnell and Oliver Cox of percussion group O Duo and ‘Owen and Olly’ will continue to present the series of concerts in the 2010-11 season.
The RSNO and CCC will present two programmes across five concerts next year; three at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and two at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh. The first in the series is Heroes vs Villains (Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - Saturday 30 October; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sunday 31 October), and the second (Glasgow Royal Concert Hall- Saturday 11th December; Usher Hall, Edinburgh – Sunday 12th December) will be a Festive programme, Christmas Carnival.
The CCC/RSNO partnership – and the continuation of the Children’s Classic Concerts orchestral series in Glasgow and Edinburgh - has been made possible by generous support from long-standing RSNO partner La Bonne Auberge, and Maurice Taylor, the Founder and Chief Executive of its parent organisation, The Chardon Group. Mr Taylor has also taken a keen interest in and has supported Children’s Classic Concerts for many years.
The partnership is highly consistent with the RSNO’s commitment to develop young people’s appetite for live orchestral music. Last year saw the relaunch of the RSNO’s curriculum-led Schools Concerts for nursery, primary and secondary students. Standard Life Passport to Music, a long-term project encouraging young people and their families to attend live classical concerts, was launched three years ago and has already allowed over 4,800 young people under the age of sixteen to attend RSNO concerts free of charge. The RSNO Under 26 scheme allows young people under the age of 26 to purchase £5 tickets for RSNO concerts through a dedicated website and social networking portal. The CCC/RSNO partnership presents many possibilities for collaborative promotion between these programmes, resulting in increased reach into communities.
Jane Gordon, Children’s Classic Concerts Executive Director: “CCC see partnerships that guarantee excellent experiences for our audiences as the logical way forward. We are delighted that the RSNO, who have thrilled our audiences so often in the past, will now be our official partners at our headline concerts in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The news that this important strand of our activities has been secured will make CCC fans very happy indeed. “
Simon Woods, RSNO Chief Executive: “CCC runs a superb programme for families, and bringing this together with the RSNO is an absolutely natural move for both parties, which will allow young people to experience the joy of orchestral music played in fun and relevant presentations by a great orchestra. The RSNO has never had a dedicated family concert series, and by joining with CCC we will be able to welcome a new and important audience group into the RSNO family.”
Heroes vs Villains is on Saturday 30 October, 2010 at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Sunday 31 October 2010 at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh. To book tickets or more information contact the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall box office on 0141 353 8000, the Usher Hall, Edinburgh box office on 0131 228 1155, or online at www.childrensclassicconcerts.co.uk.
RSNO and Children’s Classic Concerts to work together from October, bringing music for families to audiences in Glasgow and Edinburgh
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) and Children’s Classic Concerts (CCC) today (Wednesday 11 August) announce an agreement which will see Scotland’s national symphony orchestra becoming the sole orchestra for CCC’s orchestral concerts in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
For the past fifteen years CCC has delivered high-quality, entertaining, orchestral events for families in Scotland. More recently, CCC performances have been presented by the multiple award-winning pairing Owen Gunnell and Oliver Cox of percussion group O Duo and ‘Owen and Olly’ will continue to present the series of concerts in the 2010-11 season.
The RSNO and CCC will present two programmes across five concerts next year; three at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and two at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh. The first in the series is Heroes vs Villains (Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - Saturday 30 October; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sunday 31 October), and the second (Glasgow Royal Concert Hall- Saturday 11th December; Usher Hall, Edinburgh – Sunday 12th December) will be a Festive programme, Christmas Carnival.
The CCC/RSNO partnership – and the continuation of the Children’s Classic Concerts orchestral series in Glasgow and Edinburgh - has been made possible by generous support from long-standing RSNO partner La Bonne Auberge, and Maurice Taylor, the Founder and Chief Executive of its parent organisation, The Chardon Group. Mr Taylor has also taken a keen interest in and has supported Children’s Classic Concerts for many years.
The partnership is highly consistent with the RSNO’s commitment to develop young people’s appetite for live orchestral music. Last year saw the relaunch of the RSNO’s curriculum-led Schools Concerts for nursery, primary and secondary students. Standard Life Passport to Music, a long-term project encouraging young people and their families to attend live classical concerts, was launched three years ago and has already allowed over 4,800 young people under the age of sixteen to attend RSNO concerts free of charge. The RSNO Under 26 scheme allows young people under the age of 26 to purchase £5 tickets for RSNO concerts through a dedicated website and social networking portal. The CCC/RSNO partnership presents many possibilities for collaborative promotion between these programmes, resulting in increased reach into communities.
Jane Gordon, Children’s Classic Concerts Executive Director: “CCC see partnerships that guarantee excellent experiences for our audiences as the logical way forward. We are delighted that the RSNO, who have thrilled our audiences so often in the past, will now be our official partners at our headline concerts in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The news that this important strand of our activities has been secured will make CCC fans very happy indeed. “
Simon Woods, RSNO Chief Executive: “CCC runs a superb programme for families, and bringing this together with the RSNO is an absolutely natural move for both parties, which will allow young people to experience the joy of orchestral music played in fun and relevant presentations by a great orchestra. The RSNO has never had a dedicated family concert series, and by joining with CCC we will be able to welcome a new and important audience group into the RSNO family.”
Heroes vs Villains is on Saturday 30 October, 2010 at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Sunday 31 October 2010 at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh. To book tickets or more information contact the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall box office on 0141 353 8000, the Usher Hall, Edinburgh box office on 0131 228 1155, or online at www.childrensclassicconcerts.co.uk.
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| RSNO appoints new Director of Marketing and Communications |
| Former Head of Sales and Marketing for Glasgow’s Concert Halls Jane Donald has been appointed as Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) Director of Marketing and Communications. Jane will take up her new role on Tuesday 28 September 2010.
Jane Donald succeeds David Stark, who leaves having held the role since 2006, a period in which attendances and annual subscriptions have risen to the highest levels in a generation. David is leaving the RSNO to join his wife Emma as co-director of the Christian charity they set up a year ago. He will also be making his services available as an arts marketing consultant.
David Stark: "I will really miss working for the RSNO, having been a fan of the Orchestra since childhood. I consider it a great honour to have served the organisation, particularly during of one of the most exciting, enjoyable and successful periods in the company's history."
Jane Donald: “My appointment is exciting – and a privilege. The Orchestra has an established position in Europe and a special place in Scottish cultural life. The prospect of a role in the further development of their highly successful engagement with Scottish audiences is very stimulating. The RSNO team has a great reputation for innovation and I much look forward to joining them.”
RSNO Chief Executive Simon Woods: “David Stark has been a key player in the RSNO’s outstanding success over the past four years, and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his creativity and great dedication.
“However, we are incredibly fortunate that Jane Donald has agreed to join us. Jane’s pedigree is superlative, and I am confident that she will take forward the RSNO’s great reputation for marketing into a highly successful new era. On behalf of our musicians, staff and Board, I welcome her warmly to the RSNO family.”
Former Head of Sales and Marketing for Glasgow’s Concert Halls Jane Donald has been appointed as Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) Director of Marketing and Communications. Jane will take up her new role on Tuesday 28 September 2010.
Jane Donald succeeds David Stark, who leaves having held the role since 2006, a period in which attendances and annual subscriptions have risen to the highest levels in a generation. David is leaving the RSNO to join his wife Emma as co-director of the Christian charity they set up a year ago. He will also be making his services available as an arts marketing consultant.
David Stark: "I will really miss working for the RSNO, having been a fan of the Orchestra since childhood. I consider it a great honour to have served the organisation, particularly during of one of the most exciting, enjoyable and successful periods in the company's history."
Jane Donald: “My appointment is exciting – and a privilege. The Orchestra has an established position in Europe and a special place in Scottish cultural life. The prospect of a role in the further development of their highly successful engagement with Scottish audiences is very stimulating. The RSNO team has a great reputation for innovation and I much look forward to joining them.”
RSNO Chief Executive Simon Woods: “David Stark has been a key player in the RSNO’s outstanding success over the past four years, and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his creativity and great dedication.
“However, we are incredibly fortunate that Jane Donald has agreed to join us. Jane’s pedigree is superlative, and I am confident that she will take forward the RSNO’s great reputation for marketing into a highly successful new era. On behalf of our musicians, staff and Board, I welcome her warmly to the RSNO family.”
Arriving: Jane Donald
Departing: David Stark
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| New Principal Guest Leader one of four orchestral appointments for RSNO |
| James Clark joins the RSNO in newly created position of Principal Guest Leader
David Chivers, Alan John and Geneviéve Martineau join RSNO violin section
Andrew Martin, Jeremy Fletcher and Lyn Armour retire
- James Clark joins the RSNO in newly created position of Principal Guest Leader
- David Chivers, Alan John and Geneviève Martineau join RSNO violin section
- Andrew Martin, Jeremy Fletcher and Lyn Armour retire
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) has appointed the internationally respected violinist James Clark as its Principal Guest Leader. The Orchestra also welcomes the arrival of three new members to its ranks: David Chivers (Assistant Principal Violin), Alan John (Violin) and Geneviève Martineau (Violin).
RSNO Chief Executive Simon Woods: “This is a really significant announcement for the RSNO. James is a superb musician and his leadership will be enormously valuable to the RSNO. I’m especially pleased that he will play a role in our future audition and appointment process, allowing us to benefit from his immense experience in the orchestral world. I’d also like to extend the warmest of welcomes to David, Alan and Geneviève , all three of whom are very strong musicians who have come through the audition and trial process with flying colours. We are delighted that they will join us in the coming months.”
The search for another Leader to complement the appointment of James Clark continues, with auditions being held this summer. In the meantime, the Orchestra will benefit immediately from the experience and talent – on-stage and behind-the-scenes - of one of the UK’s finest orchestral musicians.
David Chivers and Alan John will join the RSNO in July in time for the Orchestra’s Edinburgh International Festival appearances. Geneviève Martineau joins for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on Monday 6 September, which also sees James Clark’s first appearance with the RSNO as Principal Guest Leader.
RSNO Principal Guest Leader James Clark: “I have enormous affection for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra being Scottish born myself. I have hugely enjoyed the times we’ve worked together in the past - it’s an ensemble with a strong artistic identity and dynamic quality which definitely has the wind in its sails! I am really thrilled and look forward to playing my part in the RSNO’s exciting future. ”
This month also sees the retirement of three long-standing members of the orchestra: Associate Principal Violin Andrew Martin, Associate Principal Cello Jeremy Fletcher and Sub-Principal Cello Lyn Armour. Between them they have accrued 81 years of service to the RSNO.
Simon Woods: “It is always a sad moment when we say goodbye to friends and colleagues who have been part of the RSNO family for so long. Lyn, Jeremy and Andrew have between them accumulated over 80 years of experience. They will be sorely missed by the orchestra and audiences alike, and we wish them all a very happy retirement.”
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| RSNO summer performances at EIF, BBC Proms and Kelvingrove |
| The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) has a busy summer planned: two diverse Edinburgh International Festival performances, a return to the BBC Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall and two concerts at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum.
The Orchestra will begin its summer programme with two high-profile yet strikingly different programmes at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival (EIF). The first, Rhapsodies in Red, White and Blue, on Saturday 14 August at the Usher Hall, features a rare Scottish appearance of the internationally renowned musician, composer and conductor, Gunther Schuller. Maestro Schuller makes his EIF début for an evening of 20th Century American classics. Two of the greatest masterworks of American music, Charles Ives’ Symphony No4 appears with George Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue - the original version for solo piano and jazz band - featuring one of Scotland’s most celebrated pianists, Steven Osborne. The evening commences with Copland’s homage to America’s great President, Lincoln Portrait.
On Wednesday 25 August, also at the Usher Hall, RSNO Music Director Stéphane Denève leads the RSNO in its second Festival performance, joined by a powerful cast - Sophie Koch, Johannes Weisser, Gordon Gietz, Christopher Purves and Keith Lewis – for a rare Scottish performance of Ravel’s one act comic opera L’Heure espagnole. The opera will be complemented by performances of Emmanuel Chabrier’s España and Jacques Ibert’s Escales.
The RSNO’s appearance at this year’s BBC Proms on Monday 6 September will give London audiences and listeners to BBC Radio 3 an opportunity to hear Three Interludes from Scottish composer James MacMillan’s Celtic mythological opera The Sacrifice. This work will then form part of the RSNO’s opening weekend of its 2010-11 Season, as one of the Orchestra’s TEN OUT OF 10 contemporary series. Acclaimed British pianist Paul Lewis completes his BBC Proms cycle of Beethoven’s five piano concertos with the Emperor. The programme commences and concludes with Romanesque orchestral showpieces; Berlioz’ Roman Carnival Overture and, to close, Respighi’s Pines of Rome.
On Friday 10 and Saturday 11 September and in partnership with Glasgow Life (formerly Culture and Sport Glasgow), the RSNO gives its fourth consecutive annual concert at Scotland’s foremost visitor attraction, Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. One of Britain’s most versatile conductors, Paul Goodwin, who is renowned for his historically informed interpretations of baroque music, will lead the musicians in a programme from two very different eras, appropriate for the sonorous acoustic of the gallery’s main hall: Handel’s Water Music - commissioned by King George I for a summer performance on the Thames - and Vaughan Williams’ lyrical and spiritual Symphony No5.
Tickets for all concerts in Glasgow can be obtained through the RSNO website www.rsno.org.uk, by contacting the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Box Office in person or by telephone on 0141 353 8000. For more information on how to purchase tickets for BBC Proms performances please call 0845 401 5040 or log onto www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010 , and for further information about the Edinburgh International Festival call 0131 473 2000 or log onto www.eif.co.uk. |
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| Glennie returns to Scotland for première of Burns inspired concerto |
| Scottish musical icon Dame Evelyn Glennie returns to her homeland in June to perform the European première of a new percussion concerto inspired by the poetry of Scotland’s bard, Robert Burns. American composer Eric Ewazen’s Songs to the Banks of Ayr will be one of the highlights of the much-loved RSNO Scottish Prom, held annually at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (Saturday 26 June) and this year returning to the Usher Hall, Edinburgh (Sunday 27 June).
Dame Evelyn Glennie is just one of the guest performers at the first RSNO Summer Pops concert series. She will be joined on stage by respected American pops conductor Jeff Tyzik, renowned for being one of the finest conductors of popular orchestral concerts in North America. Jeff makes his RSNO début, conducting all four RSNO Summer Pops programmes, New York, New York! (Saturday 12 June, 2010 - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall; Sunday 13 June, 2010 – Usher Hall, Edinburgh), Viva Italia (Saturday 19 June, 2010 - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall), Britain’s Top of the Pops (Thursday 24 June, 2010 - Usher Hall, Edinburgh; Friday 25 June, 2010 - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall). Viva Italia also features rising star, 22 year-old Italian tenor Giordano Lucà, winner of the Audience Prize at the 2009 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.
The RSNO Scottish Prom’s centerpiece, Songs to the Banks of Ayr, appears alongside works from Scottish composers Edward McGuire (Fiddler’s Farewell) and George MacIlwham (Alba) in a programme full of music from, and inspired by, Scotland, including Debussy’s March ecossaise, traditional Scots songs, jigs and reels and a few Celtic surprises, providing a fitting send-off to the RSNO’s new Summer Pops concert series.
Dame Evelyn Glennie:”I have been a great fan of Eric Ewazen's music for some time and had presented to Eric the idea of basing this new concerto on my roots as a Scots woman. Eric loved the concept and immediately got to work exploring the poetry of Robbie Burns, hence the title of the concerto Songs to the Banks of Ayr.
“The piece is a delightful journey, tapping into Robbie Burns’ poetry which I shall recite in performance before each movement, as well as giving Eric an opportunity to create some original melodies but with a real Scottish lilt.”
Dame Evelyn Glennie has performed with the RSNO on many occasions and continually brings new works to the UK to perform with Scotland’s national symphony orchestra. Excerpts from American composer Michael Daugherty’s groundbreaking concerto UFO was performed in Scotland for the first time by the RSNO in 2003, and as recently as 2008 with the European Première of John Corigliano’s percussion concerto Conjurer, in Aberdeen and Glasgow.
“It goes without saying that I am always delighted and honoured to perform with the RSNO and to my ‘home’ audiences who have supported me so much during my entire career."
Conductor Jeff Tyzik: "Evelyn Glennie is one of the world's most accomplished and unique musical artists. I have always been interested in her work and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with her on this new concerto by Eric Ewazen. Songs to the Banks of Ayr is a wonderful composition and I think the audience will find it exciting, beautiful and a pleasure to hear."
"I’m always looking for new artists to work with and I was very happy to have Giordano Lucà brought to my attention. Giordano won the audience prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition last year. The arias and popular Italian songs he will sing are known and loved all over the world. The passion will flow in this evening of Italian music."
For more information contact the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall box office on 0141 353 8000 or the Usher Hall, Edinburgh box office on 0131 228 1155 or online at www.rsno.org.uk/pops.
Scottish musical icon Dame Evelyn Glennie returns to her homeland in June to perform the European première of a new percussion concerto inspired by the poetry of Scotland’s bard, Robert Burns. American composer Eric Ewazen’s Songs to the Banks of Ayr will be one of the highlights of the much-loved RSNO Scottish Prom, held annually at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (Saturday 26 June) and this year returning to the Usher Hall, Edinburgh (Sunday 27 June).
Dame Evelyn Glennie is just one of the guest performers at the first RSNO Summer Pops concert series. She will be joined on stage by respected American pops conductor Jeff Tyzik, renowned for being one of the finest conductors of popular orchestral concerts in North America. Jeff makes his RSNO début, conducting all four RSNO Summer Pops programmes, New York, New York! (Saturday 12 June, 2010 - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall; Sunday 13 June, 2010 – Usher Hall, Edinburgh), Viva Italia (Saturday 19 June, 2010 - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall), Britain’s Top of the Pops (Thursday 24 June, 2010 - Usher Hall, Edinburgh; Friday 25 June, 2010 - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall). Viva Italia also features rising star, 22 year-old Italian tenor Giordano Lucà, winner of the Audience Prize at the 2009 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.
The RSNO Scottish Prom’s centerpiece, Songs to the Banks of Ayr, appears alongside works from Scottish composers Edward McGuire (Fiddler’s Farewell) and George MacIlwham (Alba) in a programme full of music from, and inspired by, Scotland, including Debussy’s March ecossaise, traditional Scots songs, jigs and reels and a few Celtic surprises, providing a fitting send-off to the RSNO’s new Summer Pops concert series.
Dame Evelyn Glennie:”I have been a great fan of Eric Ewazen's music for some time and had presented to Eric the idea of basing this new concerto on my roots as a Scots woman. Eric loved the concept and immediately got to work exploring the poetry of Robbie Burns, hence the title of the concerto Songs to the Banks of Ayr.
“The piece is a delightful journey, tapping into Robbie Burns’ poetry which I shall recite in performance before each movement, as well as giving Eric an opportunity to create some original melodies but with a real Scottish lilt.”
Dame Evelyn Glennie has performed with the RSNO on many occasions and continually brings new works to the UK to perform with Scotland’s national symphony orchestra. Excerpts from American composer Michael Daugherty’s groundbreaking concerto UFO was performed in Scotland for the first time by the RSNO in 2003, and as recently as 2008 with the European Première of John Corigliano’s percussion concerto Conjurer, in Aberdeen and Glasgow.
“It goes without saying that I am always delighted and honoured to perform with the RSNO and to my ‘home’ audiences who have supported me so much during my entire career."
Conductor Jeff Tyzik: "Evelyn Glennie is one of the world's most accomplished and unique musical artists. I have always been interested in her work and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with her on this new concerto by Eric Ewazen. Songs to the Banks of Ayr is a wonderful composition and I think the audience will find it exciting, beautiful and a pleasure to hear."
"I’m always looking for new artists to work with and I was very happy to have Giordano Lucà brought to my attention. Giordano won the audience prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition last year. The arias and popular Italian songs he will sing are known and loved all over the world. The passion will flow in this evening of Italian music."
For more information contact the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall box office on 0141 353 8000 or the Usher Hall, Edinburgh box office on 0131 228 1155 or online at www.rsno.org.uk/pops.
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| RSNO Junior Chorus celebrates thirty years of young vocal excellence |
| For the past thirty years the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s (RSNO) Junior Chorus has provided vocal training, music education and opportunities to perform at the highest level for young singers in Scotland. To celebrate this milestone, the RSNO Junior Chorus will perform a special anniversary concert, accompanied by the RSNO, at City Halls, Glasgow, on Friday 21 May.
The RSNO Junior Chorus continues to offer young people from the age of eight onwards the opportunity to sing weekly with a highly trained group, give concerts and make recordings. The aims of the choir have always been to encourage singing at the highest level, to learn to read music and to develop and train the voice. This nurturing of artistic excellence has proven to foster confidence-building and teamwork amongst young people. To provide the highest level of training and guidance as the singers progress, the chorus is divided into five groups: the Training Choir, Probationary Choirs 1&2, the Changed Voices group and the Junior Chorus. All three hundred singers will be performing on Friday 21 May.
A new cantata developed from a 2005 work, The Great God Thor, entitled The Saga of the Seven Days by Edinburgh-based composer Tom Cunningham forms the main work in a varied and entertaining programme, led by RSNO Junior Chorus Director Christopher Bell, who is celebrating his fifteenth year at the helm. Christopher Bell is the second Director of the Junior Chorus, succeeding Jean Kidd, MBE, founder of the then Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus.
Jean Kidd, MBE:
“I’m so pleased that these talented young singers are still able to benefit from this wonderful opportunity. It’s a valuable experience for members of the Junior Chorus to be working and performing with professional musicians and conductors of such high calibre. I wish them and Christopher all the very best of success in their future endeavours.”
This year has already been eventful for the young chorus. In January forty members of the RSNO Junior Chorus along with the RSNO Chorus and Orchestra played an ambassadorial role for Scottish culture, performing Fauré’s Requiem to a sell-out audience at the historic Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the only foreign ensemble asked to perform as part of the revered venue’s Requiem Series. In early May the experienced young singers took part in the RSNO’s critically acclaimed presentation of Britten’s War Requiem at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh and at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. And last year the RSNO Junior Chorus and Orchestra recorded a Christmas album, A Family Christmas, which will be available to buy from the autumn.
Over the next few months the RSNO Junior Chorus joins the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms in London, with performances of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No3 (Royal Albert Hall, London - Wednesday 4 August) and Symphony No8 (Usher Hall, Edinburgh - Saturday 4 September) and with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Mariss Jansons also performing Mahler’s Third Symphony at the Edinburgh International Festival (Usher Hall, Edinburgh - Tuesday 31 August).
RSNO Junior Chorus Director Christopher Bell:
“Such a prestigious list of engagements this year only goes to underline the respect that organisations like the Edinburgh International Festival, the London Proms and the BBC have for the singers of the RSNO Junior Chorus. These invitations are a testament to the young singers’ abilities and the superb staff who work tirelessly with them week in, week out, to achieve the highest possible standards.”
The RSNO is grateful to the Perth-based Gannochy Trust, which has, throughout the majority of the RSNO Junior Chorus’ existence, provided sustained and valuable support. The RSNO also warmly recognises the support of the Goldberg Family Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, W.M. Mann Foundation, Merchants’ House of Glasgow and the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust.
For more information on how to join the RSNO Junior Chorus call Christine Walker on 0141 225 3553, email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or log onto www.rsno.org.uk.
For the past thirty years the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s (RSNO) Junior Chorus has provided vocal training, music education and opportunities to perform at the highest level for young singers in Scotland. To celebrate this milestone, the RSNO Junior Chorus will perform a special anniversary concert, accompanied by the RSNO, at City Halls, Glasgow, on Friday 21 May.
The RSNO Junior Chorus continues to offer young people from the age of eight onwards the opportunity to sing weekly with a highly trained group, give concerts and make recordings. The aims of the choir have always been to encourage singing at the highest level, to learn to read music and to develop and train the voice. This nurturing of artistic excellence has proven to foster confidence-building and teamwork amongst young people. To provide the highest level of training and guidance as the singers progress, the chorus is divided into five groups: the Training Choir, Probationary Choirs 1&2, the Changed Voices group and the Junior Chorus. All three hundred singers will be performing on Friday 21 May.
A new cantata developed from a 2005 work, The Great God Thor, entitled The Saga of the Seven Days by Edinburgh-based composer Tom Cunningham forms the main work in a varied and entertaining programme, led by RSNO Junior Chorus Director Christopher Bell, who is celebrating his fifteenth year at the helm. Christopher Bell is the second Director of the Junior Chorus, succeeding Jean Kidd, MBE, founder of the then Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus.
Jean Kidd, MBE:
“I’m so pleased that these talented young singers are still able to benefit from this wonderful opportunity. It’s a valuable experience for members of the Junior Chorus to be working and performing with professional musicians and conductors of such high calibre. I wish them and Christopher all the very best of success in their future endeavours.”
This year has already been eventful for the young chorus. In January forty members of the RSNO Junior Chorus along with the RSNO Chorus and Orchestra played an ambassadorial role for Scottish culture, performing Fauré’s Requiem to a sell-out audience at the historic Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the only foreign ensemble asked to perform as part of the revered venue’s Requiem Series. In early May the experienced young singers took part in the RSNO’s critically acclaimed presentation of Britten’s War Requiem at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh and at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. And last year the RSNO Junior Chorus and Orchestra recorded a Christmas album, A Family Christmas, which will be available to buy from the autumn.
Over the next few months the RSNO Junior Chorus joins the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms in London, with performances of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No3 (Royal Albert Hall, London - Wednesday 4 August) and Symphony No8 (Usher Hall, Edinburgh - Saturday 4 September) and with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Mariss Jansons also performing Mahler’s Third Symphony at the Edinburgh International Festival (Usher Hall, Edinburgh - Tuesday 31 August).
RSNO Junior Chorus Director Christopher Bell:
“Such a prestigious list of engagements this year only goes to underline the respect that organisations like the Edinburgh International Festival, the London Proms and the BBC have for the singers of the RSNO Junior Chorus. These invitations are a testament to the young singers’ abilities and the superb staff who work tirelessly with them week in, week out, to achieve the highest possible standards.”
The RSNO is grateful to the Perth-based Gannochy Trust, which has, throughout the majority of the RSNO Junior Chorus’ existence, provided sustained and valuable support. The RSNO also warmly recognises the support of the Goldberg Family Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, W.M. Mann Foundation, Merchants’ House of Glasgow and the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust.
For more information on how to join the RSNO Junior Chorus call Christine Walker on 0141 225 3553, email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or log onto www.rsno.org.uk.
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| RSNO appoints new Assistant Conductor |
|  28 year-old Danish conductor Christian Kluxen has been appointed Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s (RSNO) Assistant Conductor, following a recruitment process which yielded a record number of applicants from across the globe. Christian Kluxen succeeds David Danzmayr, who will conclude his tenure in June.
167 applications from 26 countries over five continents were considered by the Orchestra, a 40% increase in applications for the post three years ago. Eight were invited to the RSNO Centre last Friday for audition with full orchestra, the applicants invited to conduct a mixture of repertoire; Stravinsky’s The Firebird, Dvořák’s Symphony No7 and Beethoven’s Symphony No3 Eroica. Following the audition four candidates were invited to the final round of interviews.
As RSNO Assistant Conductor, Christian Kluxen will conduct a variety of the Orchestra’s concerts, and will also play an active role in engaging audiences and communities throughout Scotland. In addition to many conducting opportunities, a key aspect of the RSNO’s Assistant Conductor role is to provide a supportive mentoring and learning environment, through ongoing professional evaluation and guidance from RSNO Music Director Stéphane Denève and player-mentors in the Orchestra. In addition, Kluxen will have the opportunity to work with many guest conductors, and develop the multi-faceted leadership, organisational and public address skills required of modern conductors.
Simon Woods, Chief Executive of the RSNO: “Christian was the clear first choice of the orchestra and the unanimous choice of appointment team. He has a real seriousness to make music at the highest level, combined with an openness to learning and growing in the role which is exactly what we are looking for. It is a pleasure to welcome him to the RSNO family, and in the coming years he will come to play a vital and rewarding role in the musical life of Scotland.”
Since 2003, Christian Kluxen has been Music Director of The Copenhagen Youth Symphony Orchestra with whom he has performed at numerous festivals throughout Europe. He also regularly guest conducts the professional orchestras in Denmark and has his Danish subscription concert début in September 2010. Christian studied at the Zürich University of the Arts with Professor Johannes Schlaefli and has benefited from attending conducting masterclasses by Jorma Panula, Bernard Haitink and RSNO Conductor Laureate Neeme Järvi. In March this year Christian was accepted to join the highly prestigious Conductors Forum of the German Music Council.
RSNO Assistant Conductor Designate, Christian Kluxen: “I'm absolutely thrilled to be appointed as the next Assistant Conductor of the RSNO and I can't wait to further my relationship with these highly professional but also very welcoming musicians.
"I got such a kick out of conducting the orchestra during the audition. As a young conductor it's so rare that you get to work with such an excellent orchestra. It felt like suddenly getting the chance to drive a Porsche.
"Since I was a child, I've listened to the many recordings of the RSNO and I never thought that I myself would one day get the chance to make music with this wonderful orchestra. It is a dream come true." |
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