Summer is here, and our young musicians across the country have been celebrating the end of another fantastic school year at Big Noise with a series of special summer concerts!
Across the 11 concerts, more than 800 of our amazing Big Noise participants came together to celebrate and showcase everything they have learned over the past year for family and friends, with music-making and other fun activities.
At Big Noise Raploch, over a series of four special summer concerts, audiences were treated to a varied programme of music – including the Big Noise favourite ‘Bella Scozia’, and music by Brahms and Dvorak.
Our young musicians were also joined by other community groups including Raploch's Community Chorus and Ukelele Orchestra, who performed the Scottish classic, ‘Donald Where’s Your Troosers’.
Elsewhere in Stirling, a couple of miles down the road from its sister programme in Raploch, Big Noise Fallin hosted a fantastic summer concert of their own at Fallin Primary school.
Community members came together to watch the young musicians of the Bing Band, Canary Band, and Chamber Brass perform a special programme of brass favourites including 'Ode to Joy' and 'When the Saints Come Marching In'.
At Big Noise Govanhill, more than 200 of our amazing young musicians turned out to perform for friends and family at two concerts at Glasgow's Elim Church. Our children and young people were also joined by Big Noise Govanhill's adult orchestra – Del Mondo.
Over the two concerts, community members and other attendees were treated to an incredibly varied programme of music from all styles - ranging from the Scottish traditional song ‘Katy Bairdie’, ‘ Jupiter’ from ‘The Planets’ by Gustav Holst, and music from the film ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.
The children and young people of Big Noise Torry treated us two to special concerts to ring in the summer holidays.
Members of our amazing Seagulls, Starfish, Puffins, Intermezzo, and Advanced orchestras performed a wide range of music for community members, including folk music in the form of Klezmer tunes, the overture from Mozart’s ‘Apollo et Hyacinthus’, the Burns staple ‘Auld Lang Syne’ , and musical selections from ‘Star Wars’ - complete with a lightsaber show by our volunteers turned jedi!
Summer concert season in Dundee means the return of Big Noise Douglas' famous Summer Festival - which was once again the perfect occasion for our community in Douglas to come together and celebrate the end of the school year.
Alongside watching some fantastic performances by the young people in our Camerata, Macaroni Penguin, and Emperor Penguin orchestras, attendees were also treated to the Summer Festival debut of Big Noise Douglas' adult traditional music group, 'Balunie Tunes'.
With an ice cream van, face painting, and a visiting fire engine in attendance, this year's summer festival was one to remember!
At our newest programme in Edinburgh, more than 100 children and young people from Big Noise Wester Hailes showed off their musical skills to friends and family at a special concert in Wester Hailes High School.
Also taking to the stage alongside the youngsters was Big Noise Wester Hailes' Adult Orchestra, who were making their debut performance.
Audience members were treated to a great programme of music, including the Big Noise favourites 'Mattachins', 'Hot Cross Buns', and 'The Dodo Song'.
June, whose daughter Aisha was playing the violin with the Advanced Orchestra in Big Noise Torry's summer concert, said:
“The concert tonight was fantastic – it's always so great being at Big Noise, and it’s great to see the smiles on all of their faces. They all put so much work into it, so it’s a great way to celebrate at the end of the year.
“Aisha has been coming here since she was six years old. She’s more confident now, and her resilience is way up there now, in a way it never used to be. It’s good for her and it’s great for her mental health as well.”
Jo Ashcroft, Head of Centre of Big Noise Raploch and Fallin said:
“We’re so proud of all our children and young people across both Raploch and Fallin, as well as the adult members of our Community Chorus and Ukulele Group – not just for their fantastic performances at our summer concerts, but also for all the hard work and dedication they have shown over the past year.
“Our series of concerts are always a fantastic opportunity for our children and young people, their friends and family, and other members of the Raploch and Fallin communities to come together to celebrate the end of another school year and another fantastic year of Big Noise in Stirling."
