RSNO Young Ambassador 14:15 – Rosie Lavery

Yesterday, on Sat 7 Feb 2015, I went to the RSNO concert A French Feast in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – and what a feast it was. I had been particularly excited for this concert, as I have a great love of languages, especially French! Taking my seat with the rest of the ambassadors, after our customary meet and greet of the audience, I felt a shiver of excitement as the lights went down and the oboe played it's first tuning note for the rest of the orchestra. In the past couple of years, that lonely 'A' note has become somewhat of a signpost for me of something spectacular to come – especially whilst sitting in the Concert hall.

Once the orchestra had tuned up, and the audience has quietened down, the conductor Gilbert Varga walked onto the stage, smiling and waving, before beginning to welcome the audience to the concert. He then went on to give us some back ground on the first piece – Les Éolides (The Breezes) by César Franck, in which he asked the audience to imagine a light summers breeze gently tapping on our cheeks as the strings began in a delicate surge of sound. It felt quite unusual actually, to have a conductor speak so intimately about a piece to the audience before beginning, but I found it refreshing and very interesting. The rest of the young ambassadors and I had been discussing before the concert about how we could make Classical Music more accessible to people of our age – and one of the ways we all agreed on was giving the music a bit of context. It's all very well to listen to an orchestra playing a piece and afterwards saying "Oh yes, it was lovely" but soon forgetting it. However, what Gilbert Varga did by actually explaining the background of the piece, actually made the piece into an experience. The piece was absolutely exquisite and completely blew away the audience (breeze pun intended...)

After the rapturous applause of the audience died down, there was a slight pause in the programme as the conductor walked off the stage and was replaced by two stage crew carrying what looked like, according to one of the young ambassadors, 'a giant door'. But yet, it soon became clear as the conductor reappeared with a man holding a cello (Daniel Müller-Schott, world renowned cellist, to be more precise) that this 'giant door' was actually an extra stage – the solo cellist had arrived. And so began the second piece, Cello Concerto No.1 by Saint-Saëns. Beginning with a punchy melismatic line from the soloist, the entire audience was submerged in Daniel Müller-Schott's absolute passion for the music, which you could feel as the notes sang from his bow. I think everyone's reaction to the piece, and the night as a whole, was enraptured in the image of a little tiny girl I spotted in the front row with her grandmother, who within three seconds of the cellist beginning to play, turned round to her gran with wide eyes and mouthed "WOW!"

And to sum up, the rest of the concert was just "WOW!". Going from Fauré's absolutely exquisite and "intimately beautiful" piece, according the conductor – which had me and one of the other Ambassadors in tears – to Ravel’s Ma mère l’oye (Mother Goose) which cheered us up immensely, before a rather impromptu and unscheduled performance of a wonderful Benjamin Britten piece, performed solo cello without orchestra, the night was a complete success.

The concert ended with Ravel’s Le Valse, which told the story of a Waltz's birth and then death. The conductor related this to us using a very complicated extended metaphor of a wizard... I don’t know either... but it was clear the audience had an absolutely amazing night. The clapping bounced off of the walls, going on for ages and raining down on the orchestra, and most importantly Varga and Müller-Schott. And, as I travelled home on the train afterwards, I realised that every fantastic musical night I have begins with a lonely 'A' note from an oboe – and ends with aching hands from clapping! Globalement, c’était absolutement fantastique!

RSNO Young Ambassadors 14:15 – Sophie Lewis

Young Ambassadors Forum #3

Today was the third forum for the RSNO Young Ambassadors. Our focus was on connecting young audiences to centuries-old music which is something we all feel is important. We started off with a roundup of all we had done in our communities, which was interesting as everyone had been really busy and had made great progress. We decided that because a lot of us wanted to go to organisations and schools to talk about what we do that it would be a good idea to plan out a presentation that we could all use. This was good fun as everyone had great ideas as to what to put in and it allowed us to get a bit creative. After this, we brainstormed ways in which we thought we could connect young people to old music and turned our thoughts into questions that we could later ask the audience. We also got our Young Ambassador badges from Megan; my blazer will look great now!

During our market research with the audience, we met some really helpful people who had some great suggestions and ideas, which is always encouraging. I love getting out and speaking to the audience and when they are so receptive and willing to chat it makes the experience even better. 

The programme for tonight’s concert – A French Feast – was one that I had been looking forward to a lot! Perhaps, as a cellist, I am biased but it was one of the best concerts yet! Daniel Müller-Schott was incredible; I was completely in awe at the way he played the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto. The technicality of the piece and the passion he played with both amazed me. When this then led into the Fauré Elégie I thought I was in music heaven. The Elégie is one of my favourite pieces for the cello and as I am currently studying it in my music lessons it was amazing to hear it live and played so beautifully. Being sat close to the stage, you could really feel the emotion, and as a cellist I really connected to that as I’m sure many of the other Young Ambassadors did. The encore that Müller-Schott played was a great surprise and rounded off a beautiful section amazingly. I was inspired to go home and practice myself; much to my families dislike! I loved every part of the first half and would gladly sit through it again and again and again. 

The second half of the concert was equally as amazing. It amazed me how together the orchestra was in Ravel's La Valse. You just got swept up on the music and let the orchestra take over. The conductor's comments on the music really put you in the right frame of mind to listen and this was great to hear. It was a shame to end the concert, to be honest, I could have listened all night!

Sophie Lewis, Young Ambassador 14:15 for North Ayshire

RSNO Young Ambassador 14:15 – Rachel Hendry

Review of Buniatishvili plays Liszt at the Music Hall, Aberdeen on Thursday 29 January 2015 The concert opened with a piece by Schumann. This isn't a composer whose work I am very familiar with, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The piece was Overture, Scherzo and Finale. I liked the elegant opening section but I really loved the lively Finale. Next was the highlight of the evening. The pianist, Khatia Buniatishvili, played Liszt's Piano Concerto No2 in A major. Again, this piece was new to me, but I really enjoyed it. I loved the way it didn't have 3 separate movements but three contrasting sections with the same beautiful melody running through it. I thought Khatia was amazing I couldn't take my eyes off her hands as she played – her performance was spellbinding! After the gentle opening I was quite surprised by the harsh, crashing style of the finale. After the interval we were treated to two more beautiful pieces of music; Siegfried Idyll by Richard Wagner and Symphony No1, Spring by Robert Schumann. I enjoyed the soft gentle sound of the Idyll, but I really loved the more dramatic Spring, which was a wonderful end to a lovely evening.

RSNO Young Ambassadors 14:15 - Megan Lawson

Fife RSNO Young Ambassador Megan Lawson describes Metamorphosen in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Friday 24 October 2014.

I had heard R. Strauss’ Metamorphosen many a time on YouTube but to hear it live was a totally different experience. The unusual layout of the strings was a very different thing to see indeed. Many of the people I had brought with me were confused at the fact the orchestra was so small and that they were not placed in the usual manner. The piece started off very well, with the cellos taking the tune over now and again. The piece was very mystical and had a sinister feel to it. I think you have to have an acquired taste for that type of music to enjoy the musicality behind it.

Beethoven’s Overture to Fidelio was a very short and beautiful contrast to the previous piece. The fast and lively sections of the piece caught the immediate attention of the audience. As the main tune re-occurs many times in this piece many people begin to recognise the piece. The question and answer sections of the piece were executed perfectly. I really enjoyed this piece.

Concerto for Orchestra - what a way to finish a concert! I love this piece, I have listened to it so many times and it is one of my favourite classical pieces. The five different movements are all very contrasting to each other. The final movement is very lively and upbeat. It is a fantastic ending to an amazing piece.

Overall, this concert was an excellent one. All 3 pieces contrasted each other in very different ways and it was a perfect first classical concert for people to attend. 

Megan Lawson

Megan is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador Scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All opinions expressed by Young Ambassadors are that of the individual and are not representative of the RSNO. For more information, visit the RSNO website.  

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RSNO Young Ambassadors 14:15 - Scott Bathgate

Edinburgh RSNO Young Ambassador Scott Bathgate describes Metamorphosen in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Friday 24 October 2014.

On Friday the 24th of October, I was treated to what was a magnificent concert. This concert featured the works of Strauss with Metamorphosen, Beethoven with his Overture to Fidelio and Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. Metamorphosen was a very emotional and inspired by very dark events in the composers life. Strauss began working on the piece after he heard there was a bombing (Strauss living in the time where his home city Munich in Germany was under the Nazi regime) on the historic opera house in Munich which he had known for 70 years. The music definitely reflects this pain as we are introduced to push string sections filled with beauty and slight dissonance. We were then treated to Beethoven's Overture to Fidelio.

Derived from Beethoven's only and unsuccessful opera, Beethoven composed the opera as he enjoyed and admired the work of Mozart's operas but he was critical of the immoral subject matter in works such as Cosi fan Tutte. A very impressive piece with a very vibrant and lively character. It went down a storm with the audience. Finally we are met with Bartok's Symphony for Orchestra. This being the longest piece on the programme was a very vast and very intricate piece. While the title may contradict itself, Bartok purposely titled this piece due to the way he uses all the instruments in the orchestra in a virtuosic and solo like manner. The piece is met with many ideas and motifs which develops throughout the entire piece. One notable point in the piece is when Bartok through compositional technique mocks Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony, which he felt was getting way more attention than it should, in the fourth movement. The viola part introduces this theme very briefly before getting mocked by the loud sound of the brass. A very powerful piece which served as a suitable finale to the evening. I thoroughly enjoyed the night and so did the audience.

Scott Bathgate

Scott is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All opinions expressed by Young Ambassadors are that of the individual and are not representative of the RSNO. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassadors Forum #4: Natalie Brayshaw

One of the Highlands' Young Ambassadors, Natalie Brayshaw, describes the 4th Young Ambassadors Forum and Vaughan Williams' 5th on Fri 4 April 2014, at Eden Court, Inverness.

Friday 4^th April saw the fourth of this season’s Young Ambassador forums, in Inverness. We met at Eden Court (in Inverness). This venue was particularly appropriate due to the fact that it was the final celebration week of the RSNO’s Highland Residency. Because to this, the forum took a slightly different format from the others: this time, it involved the Young Ambassadors preparing questions which three of us would later direct at two RSNO musicians in the pre-show talk. After having decided on some questions ranging from “What do you like about the Highlands?” to “Is the bassoon undergoing a revival?” and everything in between, we met the musicians: principal bassoon David Hubbard, and cellist Ruth Rowlands, who were more than happy to answer them. Both have been involved in the Highland Residency, and I recognised David from his involvement in the Highland Schools Wind Band, which I’m a member of.

After the talk, it was straight into another fantastic concert. It started with Neilsen’s stirring Helios overture, whose melody simply tells the story of a day – from sunrise to sunset. Though I’d heard the piece before, I’d never actually seen it performed, so it was a wonderful experience which really brought the music alive.

Next came Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, which was fantastic: commencing with the warm and lively Sinfonta (Overture) before progressing through a number of equally interesting movements. I particularly enjoyed Gavotta because of the prominent wind section, and the humorous Vivo evoked a good reaction from the audience. I absolutely loved this piece.  

After a short interval, we returned for the famous Vaughn Williams’ Symphony No.5. The audience was captivated from start to finish, and the piece was a fantastic way to end ean already brilliant evening. I look forward to the next forum!

Natalie Brayshaw

Natalie is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All views expressed by Young Ambassadors belong to those of the individual and are not representative of the organisation. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassadors at the Big Highland Residency : Natalie Brayshaw

One of the Highlands' Young Ambassadors, Natalie Brayshaw, describes the final event of RSNO's Big Highland Residency, RSNO Collaborate on Sat 5 April 2014 at Eden Court, Inverness

On Saturday 5^th,  Eden Court hosted RSNO Collaborate, an event which invited amateur instrumentalists and singers - young and old - of grade 4 standard and above to play alongside the orchestra in a concert following a day of intensive rehearsals. When I first heard about this opportunity, I couldn’t wait to sign up, and I’m so glad that I did. The day began when, at 10am, we all gathered in the Empire Theatre for a vocal warm up – instrumentalists and singers alike – which introduced us to the fun, informal nature of the day.

Then, we split into our instrumental groups for sectionals. The flute sectional (which I attended) was held by Andrea Kuypers, who some of us had seen playing both flute and piccolo in the orchestra the night before. We began by running through the pieces we would be playing: a variety of Scots Traditional songs including Johnnie Cope and Will Ye No Come Back Again, and Sing by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Some of the group also performed extracts from Vivaldi’s Gloria, in which woodwind are not required. This session, was very useful, and interesting in terms of flute technique. We then went into slightly larger groups, with woodwind all being led by principal bassoon, David Hubbard. After playing through and getting a general feel for the pieces, we had a break for lunch. During this, there was a performance by RSNO’s Baroque ensemble in the local hall which participants had the opportunity to attend.

After lunch, the whole orchestra and choir came together for a rehearsal. Sitting on the stage and playing alongside such a large group of both amateurs and RSNO musicians was fantastic, and it was great to have the opportunity to get advice from the professionals. When the woodwind were no longer required, some of us sat and watched rehearsals of Vivaldi’s Gloria, before the flutes met up with Andrea again, this time for a workshop based not on the pieces, but on flute technique. I already knew two other flautists from Highland Young Musician regional groups, and it was great to meet the others. We did a variety of exercises, mainly focussing on good breath control which affects a variety of other things such as tone.

Finally, it was time for the concert. A lot of the audience were friends and family members of performers, and the concert – like the rest of the day –was fairly informal. By the time it came to perform, it felt like we’d been rehearsing a lot more than the actual grand total of around 5 hours! The concert went very well, and it was wonderful for all of us to be able to say we had the opportunity to play/sing alongside the RSNO. The whole day was absolutely brilliant, and the perfect conclusion to the RSNO’s Highland Residency. 

Natalie Brayshaw

Natalie is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All views expressed by Young Ambassadors belong to those of the individual and are not representative of the organisation. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassadors at the Big Highland Residency: Elizabeth Barke

One of the Highlands' Young Ambassadors, Elizabeth Barke reviews RSNO's Big Highland Residency

Every year the RSNO holds a residency in Scotland and this year it was held in the Highlands. Overall the residency ran for 9 months with lots of different concerts and activities for all ages.

My involvement with the Big highland residency started in September when the members of the RSNO came to the highland regional youth orchestra rehearsals and worked with us for our programme for November. Working along side members of the RSNO was great as we could see how they tackled a piece of music and they gave us loads of useful tips. I was working with Janet Richardson the principle piccolo of the RSNO. This was great for me as I only recently started the piccolo so it was very inspirational to see the piccolo being played to that standard. The musicians from the RSNO then can back later on in the year to help us with a our March programme.

As part of the big highland residency the RSNO held workshops in highland schools. I was lucky to attend an improvisation workshop with my school's big band. The workshop was taken by the principle trombone player Dávur Juul Magnussen. It was such a great experience for myself and the rest of the band. We learnt to react off each others improvisation and really work well together as a band. I also hope to be attending a conducting workshop with Jean Claude Picard run by the RSNO in the near future.

As well as these workshops in schools, the RSNO held more activities for all ages such as a tea dance in Kingussie and a singing project with boys in primary 7 and secondary 1.

To end the Big Highland Residency the RSNO were in concert on the 4rth of April with a spectacular performance of Vaughan Williams Fifth symphony alongside Berlioz Helios overture and Stravinsky's ballet music Pulcinella. I was lucky enough to interview cellist Ruth Rowlands and bassoonist David Hubbard as part of the pre-concert talk. Myself and two other young ambassadors were able to ask them about their experience of the highland residency and also general questions about being in the RSNO. After we had asked them our questions they then went on to ask us questions about being young ambassadors and our involvement in the Big Highland Residency. I really enjoyed the concert and it was also great to spend some time with the other young ambassadors.

The next day was a collaboration "come sing, come play" day with the RSNO this was a chance for musicians to play and sing alongside the RSNO. The day was run through workshops in sections run by members of the RSNO. At midday the RSNO baroque ensemble performed in Inverness town house. At the end of the day there was a performance of the collaboration day work of Vivaldi's Gloria, Sing by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber and some traditional songs Johnnie Cope and Will Ye No Come Back Again.

The Big Highland Residency 2014 has been a wonderful success  engaging more people in classical music and giving wonderful experiences to people of all ages including myself. 

Elizabeth Barke

Elizabeth is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All views expressed by Young Ambassadors belong to those of the individual and are not representative of the organisation. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassador Review: Turangalila

One of the Glasgow Young Ambassadors, Luke Maher, describes Turangalila in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Sat 15 March 2014

Turangalila was a piece that I never thought I would be able to like. I had listened to several recording but had never seen it live and until this point I hadn't managed to enjoy it at all. The dissonance and the madness of it had just never managed to capture me, however, Saturdays (15th March) performance changed it all.

The RSNO under the baton of Thomas Søndergård were thrilling and for the first time I enjoyed Messiaen's Turangalila immensely. It really is as much of a feast for the eyes as it is for the ears with the use of instruments such as the ondes Martenot (the nearest thing to a synthesiser in a piece of classical music). All the soloists really were amazing but for me the leader of the orchestra stood out as I think he captured Messiaen's idea of a love song amongst the chaos perfectly. Passages that had usually made feel a little uneasy completely reeled me in and when the tension was released, with the massive warm brass chords that pop up several times throughout the piece, the hall was left in shock and you could feel the audience wanting more.

The only disappointing thing about this concert was the attendance. A masterpiece and display of such genius should not be missed by anyone who can help it.

Luke Maher

Luke is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All opinions expressed by Young Ambassadors are that of the individual and are not representative of the RSNO. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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RSNO Work Experience: Thea Sands

Renfrewshire's Young Ambassador, Thea Sands, describes what work experience with the RSNO means to her.

               

I’ve always been interested in the arts but only in the past year or so has music really started to form an integral part of my life. I constantly have odd little pieces of music circulating through my thoughts, often causing my brain to take diversions and become completely distracted from the task at hand but I love it! Sometimes it’s hard to ignore and I have to give in to the glory of the music by frantically dancing around to obscure polyphonic melodies, impersonating the violins with my dulcet - often terrifyingly off key - tones or by simply grabbing the nearest pen in site and taking centre stage as a flamboyant conductor with my biro for a baton! I often fall into trances where I become totally transfixed with a piece of music; all other sounds become muted and I can do little else but stare into space trying to comprehend the music in my own little world. I first fell under the spell of classical music when I burst into tears upon hearing the first few bars of Bach’s B minor Mass. I find the power classical/orchestral music holds to evoke emotions and communicate utterly enthralling.

I’m really passionate about helping other young people experience similar feelings with regards to classical music … and all music for that matter! It’s so important for me to help others explore forms of music, even if that means influencing someone to attend one concert resulting in them deciding it’s not for them. It’s essential that they have at least tried it before disregarding the form. With this in mind, the opportunity to become a Young Ambassador for the RSNO seemed absolutely perfect! I get to promote live orchestral music and work within my own community to try to enhance the integration of this musical form into youth culture. My aim is to effectively act as a ‘doorway’ for young people establish a route into classical music and other diverse realms of music.

The ideology behind increasing accessibility for the arts comes quite naturally to me and I find it easy to talk about integration with people similar to my age group and adults. I’m brimming with ideas for projects/schemes and events which may boost this integration. It’s obvious that the perception of classical music really needs to undergo a form of modulation in order to get young people interested. I’m here to instigate change!

One of my major resolutions for 2014 is to simply delve into the world of music and get involved with further Youth Arts strategies. I’m going to continue to follow my love of Classical/orchestral music and see where it takes me and try and introduce it to those who have never experienced it before. I’m determined upon finding that spark that will get young people interested in Classical music.

Thea Sands

Thea is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All views expressed by Young Ambassadors belong to those of the individual and are not representative of the organisation. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassadors Survey: Natalie Brayshaw

One of the Highlands' Young Ambassadors, Natalie Brayshaw, describes the results of a survey she created for pupils at her school analysing their opinions on classical music.

I’ve recently been given back the completed surveys which were given out to a group of first year pupils, and the results are certainly very interesting!

Firstly, It was shocking to discover that over half of the pupils had never been to a classical music concert or been involved in a workshop, and that only five (of the twenty-eight who completed the survey) had been in the last six months.

These findings go hand in hand with the fact that only four pupils had a definite interest in classical music. Interestingly, almost all of the people who said they had an active interest in and enjoyed it play instrument themselves. This suggests that the opportunities are there, but it is not always easy to expose everybody to them. A few pupils even said that they weren’t entirely sure what constituted as classical music.

So could the general disinterest of the young in classical music be down to a lack of experience of it? This ties in with the question about workshops or concerts: sixteen pupils said they had never been involved in either of these, though when pupils were asked how they thought we could encourage more young people to be involved in classical music, workshops were the most common suggestion.

Other suggestions included using music from films – which we have already discussed – and having older members of the school perform, for example at assemblies, to inspire the younger pupils. A few also suggested that teachers play classical music in class, though this would be a little impractical.

We’re fairly restricted as to what we can actually do within classes - the teachers obviously have to stick to the curriculum - but what can we do in ensuring that there are more ways to introduce young people to classical music? It would be highly difficult and impractical to bring the RSNO directly to each individual school and areas but are there other ways in which we can run workshops?

There are ongoing discussions within the RSNO Young Ambassadors on this topic, with ideas such as working with local musical groups external to the school, and starting informal groups in which pupils with no prior experience in classical music can learn and broaden their minds as to what it actually is – an idea already being put into action by one of the Ambassadors. The suggestion from one of the pupils about using the senior students in the school to help change the image of music as something 'boring' or 'uncool' is also a very good one, which I hope to be able to work on. I also hope to be able to use the fact that the RSNO’s current Engage project is based in the Highlands - the area in which I live - to encourage the involvement of more young people in the orchestra.

Natalie Brayshaw

Natalie is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All views expressed by Young Ambassadors belong to those of the individual and are not representative of the organisation. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassadors Forum #2: Seona Glen

Stirling's Young Ambassador, Seona Glen, describes the second Young Ambassadors Forum and Oundjian Conducts Walton, Thu 6th Feb at Perth Concert Hall. 

On Thursday 6th February the second RSNO Young Ambassadors forum took place at Perth Concert Hall, one of five locations across Scotland in which the Young Ambassadors will meet this year, so as to reflect the National aspect of the RSNO and indeed the Young Ambassadors Scheme. For many of us, Perth Concert Hall was a relatively unfamiliar venue, and it was great to see the RSNO in action outside of Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

To kick off the evening, we were very lucky to have Peter Oundjian, Music Director of the RSNO, come to talk to us about our role as Young Ambassadors. He listened attentively as we explained our ideas as to how we can promote classical music to a younger audience, and offered some of his own ideas which we have taken on board.

When Peter had to run off to prepare for that evening's concert, Manus Carey, Executive Producer of the RSNO, kindly came to speak with us. Manus was interested in hearing our views about the programming of concerts, and asked what we liked and perhaps didn't like about the programming, which sparked some interesting discussion about what type of experience appeals to a younger audience, and also the controversial issue of 'concert etiquette'. A view which was raised was that we should perhaps try to advertise concerts as being not only about the music, but also about enjoying a wider experience, with a vast number of people in one room who have a shared appreciation for the music and the orchestra.

After our discussion with Manus, we sat down with Neil Cullen, Digital Projects Coordinator, who runs the Young Ambassadors Scheme, to discuss the concert in June, which the Young Ambassadors will be planning and aiming at under 25s. This will include choosing the venue, ensemble and repertoire, and promoting the concert. Thursday's discussion was largely an exchange of ideas, and there seemed to be a mutual feeling that in order to best attract young people, the concert should be different to a 'normal' concert. We took this idea into account when considering possible venues.

Following the forum, the Young Ambassadors were invited to attend the evening's concert, Oundjian Conducts Walton. The concert opened with a very moving performance of Wagner's beautiful Overture to Tannhäuser, which captivated the audience from the opening calming melodies right through to the tremendous climax, where the strings seemed to cry out against the strong chords in the brass.

The next piece was entirely different in character, and quite refreshing between two more rich and powerful pieces. Richard Goode, the phenomenal American pianist, took to the stage for an exquisite rendition of Mozart's Piano Concerto No17. His elegant playing balanced the orchestra perfectly, and the orchestra's crisp articulation mirrored his. For me, however, the highlight of the evening was still to come.

In the second half, the RSNO returned to perform Walton's First Symphony, a piece which I had never heard before. However, by the third movement I had completely fallen in love with it. It's not all that often that I really enjoy a piece the first time I hear it, because it usually takes a few listens to be able to really 'listen properly'. So, the fact that the piece won me over on the first listen is testament to the expressive and open playing of the RSNO. I left the concert hall with that great feeling of having discovered a new piece, and even without the rest of the concert, I would have been happy to leave with that alone.

Seona Glen

Seona is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All views expressed by Young Ambassadors belong to those of the individual and are not representative of the organisation. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassador Review: John Lill's 70th

West Lothian's Young Ambassador, Rebecca Smith, describes John Lill's 70th in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Sat 1 Feb 2014.

Stravinsky Symphonies of Wind Instruments
Schubert Symphony No. 4
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1
 
Douglas Boyd (Conductor)
John Lill (Piano)
 
It was a great change to open the concert with just the wind players. The players brought out each melodic line and shaped it wonderfully.

I enjoyed the Schubert symphony after having had the theme explained to us at the pre-concert talk. This symphony really sticks out amongst the other music of the time, and was very refreshing.

John Lill was warmly received by the audience, his unique musicality shining through at 70 years of age. The slow movement was particularly moving, played with clarity and flawless technique.

As a Young Ambassador, I was struck by one audience member who chose to voice his opinion rather loudly during the interval. He seemed very angry that one young person sitting near me had coughed a few times during the first half, making jokes such as ‘my favourite composer is Tchi-cough-ski’, and saying that she should not have come to the concert. The girl was offered cough sweets by two audience members who made it clear that they were unhappy about her coughing.

I found it very strange that audience members sought to control the concert environment. They chose to exclude a girl, who could very well have been asthmatic, from enjoying the music. Many people coughed during the performance, as in every concert, but they chose to approach this young girl over any other audience members. I found it very uncomfortable and discouraging to listen to this man who seemed to think that a teenager was not mature enough to be in a classical music environment, which is simply not true. Funnily enough, the principal trumpet player also seemed to have a bad cough, but no one tried to exclude him from enjoying the music like they had with the girl.

Usually I can deal with sonic disruption from the audience, and normally focus on the music rather than the people around me. However, I have gone to many concerts alone where I have seen older people around me staring at me. I know that I have a much greater understanding of music than the average concert goer, so I don’t let it put me off, but it creates a less than welcoming atmosphere I have to say.

Thankfully the group of young people told me after the concert that they had had fun and thought that the performance had been very good. The people who had approached the girl for coughing had not left a lasting impression on her, although their attitude had struck me.

If we hope to encourage more young people to classical music, perhaps we should try to educate the audience that any listener has the right to enjoy the concert, whether they have a beeping hearing aid, a cough or otherwise. I don’t think that it is right for anyone to tell anyone else off for something like a cough, because that is very different from asking politely.

In a normal situation, coughing is not thought of as loud, but as soon as you move to a concert environment, the rules seem to change. Everyone in the concert hall was sitting quietly, with no talking, no ringing phones, no crying babies. If we start to pick on every single noise in a concert hall we are leading into an infinite number of more rules: no air conditioning, no squeaky chairs, no sneezing… the list is endless. Is that really what we should be focusing on, is that why we go to concerts, as a weekly occasion to enforce more social rules on people? Or is it to enjoy the music? I sincerely hope it is the latter.

Rebecca Smith

Concert etiquette is of frequent debate amongst audiences. Read the article by Kate Molleson in The Guardian, published September 2013: A quiet word about classical concert etiquette. Share your own thoughts on Twitter @RSNO

Rebecca is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All opinions expressed by Young Ambassadors are that of the individual and are not representative of the RSNO. For more information, visit the RSNO website.
 
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Young Ambassadors Forum #1: Seona Glen

Stirling's Young Ambassador, Seona Glen, describes the first Young Ambassadors Forum and Lugansky Plays The Emperor, Sat 23rd Nov at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.  

On Saturday 23rd November, the new RSNO Young Ambassadors met for the first time, at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The young people came from all over Scotland, with one member making a six hour round trip to come to the event. The evening kicked off with a photo shoot with the RSNO in rehearsal behind us, which had all of us very excited. Afterwards, we worked in groups to discuss our ideas about how the RSNO and classical music in general might become more accessible to young people. It soon became clear that there was a shared determination amongst us to help more people our age reap the benefits of involvement in classical music.

After having got to know each other, the Young Ambassadors attended the concert which was taking place that evening, Lugansky plays the Emperor. The concert opened with a very moving interpretation of Messiaen’s Les Offrandes Oubliées. Before the performance Peter Oundjian, Music Director of the RSNO gave a the audience a meaningful insight into the piece, which helped me to really listen to the piece at a deeper level than I might have otherwise. Next, the phenomenal Russian pianist Nikolai Lugansky took to the stage, where he performed with the orchestra a stunning rendition of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No5, better known as the Emperor. The great energy shown on stage by all was transferred to the captivated audience. For me the highlight was the piano's first entry in the second movement, which the musicians handled sensitively to create a very special moment in the room.

Lastly in the programme was Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances, of which the RSNO gave yet another first-rate performance. This was followed by enormous applause, but before too many had managed to get their coats on, the orchestra surprised us with an energetic encore of one of Brahms' Hungarian Dances, which ended the concert with a flourish.

I think I speak for all of the Young Ambassadors when I say it was an inspirational evening, and I very much look forward to our next meeting in February.

Seona Glen 

Seona is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassador Interview: Nicola Benedetti

RSNO Highland Young Ambassador, Susannah Mack, interviews Nicola Benedetti

I recently had the incredible opportunity to interview the one and only Nicola Benedetti before her concert with the RSNO. She was amazingly welcoming and kind and I’m truly grateful for her brilliant answers.

Scotland is verging on a very exciting time for classical music. Due to hard work, fantastic projects and great role models such as Nicola, I think there is a new lease of life into the classical world on the way. For example, look at the new RSNO youth projects and the expanding national youth orchestras with the new junior and senior orchestras already making headlines, and the regional orchestras across the country are getting more exciting all the time. After having said that, there are huge regional differences. In the Highlands we are lagging behind the rest because of remoteness and very limited musical experiences on offer.

I asked Nicola if she thought she might not have still had her opportunities if she had grown up somewhere more remote.

I definitely do. I think I was very lucky to have a Suzuki programme near to where I was, and to have parents that we able to take me to that and in me consistently getting the opportunities I needed in order to become a violinist. There’s only so much your talent can do for you. The rest is about good teaching, the right kind of exposure and enough people around you encouraging you to work hard at it. If you don’t have those things you can be as talented as you like but it’s very unlikely that you’re going to be able to develop that and make the most of it. Especially within classical music because of the level of expertise you have to learn.

The RSNO Young Ambassadors have been selected to encourage more young people into concert halls. What are your opinions on how to do this?

I don’t think it takes much, actually, whenever I’ve invited young people to concerts they’ve really enjoyed it. There are barriers which we can break down, and it’s a combined effort to make new people and young people feel welcome. There are some people who can really be quite hostile - staring and glaring if anyone makes a slight noise or does anything out of the ordinary in terms of the protocol - so all of the work can sometimes be undone, and we don’t want to have people being worried about doing something wrong, we want them to be relaxed and enjoying themselves. Maybe if it’s someone’s first time then give a brief explanation of what usually happens such as waiting to clap at the end of a piece - although personally I don’t mind when they clap they can clap in the middle of a movement and I won’t care! Just give them a little bit of a run-down of how it is in a classical concert hall. I think it helps a lot.

What if we adapted this idea to involve school children in music from a much earlier stage? What do you think we should be proud of in terms of musical education and what she thinks we should change?

I think at the moment there is a lot to be proud of especially in international comparisons. I think Scotland has done particularly well in protecting our culture budget and protecting their cultural education focus. I so wish that every single child in Scotland could have the chance to hear music, and have a music teacher in every school to take time to listen to all sorts of music, making it their job to expose their favourites to children of all ages, with different levels of complexity, and share with the kids their enthusiasm for listening to it, share with them why they enjoy it and why they were so moved by it. And then, obviously, I’d love for every child to have the chance to learn to play an instrument and to play in groups together. First of all it’s so unbelievably difficult; you need so much patience, concentration and perseverance which are skills which will take with you through life and into your future. And playing in a group teaches you so much about listening to one another, about being a more open and better person, and about working together. And so I wish there was an orchestral programme in every school.

Nicola is very active in the Sistema Scotland project, which transforms lives and communities through music. I wondered if we could potentially adapt this project to spread across the whole country, and I was delighted to hear that the project is being taken on elsewhere - already in Govanhill and another underway in Aberdeen. 

I think once the momentum gets going it’s just going to blossom. It takes such a devoted number of people to make something like that work, it takes a lot of funds and it takes a huge amount of support. I think they really proved themselves in Raploch and I think that made a big difference, gaining a very warm reception in Govanhill as they probably will in Aberdeen. It’s definitely their intention to run the programme out elsewhere and now they have government funding which shows to me that it’s something the government would like to see scattered across the country in as many cities and towns as they can.

It’s not every day that you meet one of your heroes, and to be offered their thoughts and ambitions in response to your questions. I think the biggest outcome from my interview with Nicola Benedetti is that by sharing our love of music, offering positive role models and by creating exciting new activities, we will be able to transform the future of classical music.

Susannah Mack

Susannah is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassadors Forum #1: Kelsa McDonald

One of the Fife Region's Young Ambassadors, Kelsa McDonald, describes the first Young Ambassadors Forum and Lugansky Plays The Emperor, Sat 23rd Nov at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. 

On Saturday the 23rd of November it was the first chance for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Young Ambassadors to meet and attend the first concert. The Ambassadors come from all over Scotland but all share the same passion: classical music. The concert was “Lugansky Plays the Emperor” which was conducted by Peter Oundjian and featured the RSNO along with Nikolai Lugansky, a renowned pianist.
 
After arriving, myself and the other Ambassadors were taken into the concert hall for a hurried photo opportunity. At that point in time the orchestra were warming up and running over the material for the night ahead. It was almost dizzying to look down and see the cluster of people and instruments so far below us.

Once the photo shoot was over we returned to the VIP lounge where we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves and have a small discussion about RSNO Schools Concerts. After stating our name, school, what instrument/s we play, and what part of Scotland we were from we split into small groups to gather ideas. The discussion was a great success and it was interesting to see so many different ideas being presented, showing just how much of an input young people can have in classical music!
 
When the time came to watch the concert I was particularly excited. I enjoy listening to piano music and watching live performances is always so different to simply hearing it or watching it through a screen. The conductor, Peter Oundjian, was interesting and informative when introducing the musical pieces, but was also brief. The show commenced with a lively piece of music by French composer Marais before Lugansky took to the keys to perform Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto. The time flew by and before I knew it, the second half had begun. It featured a set of Symphonic Dances by the Russian composer, Rachmaninov, and finished with another dance, this time by Brahms.
 
The evening was very enjoyable and I’m eagerly awaiting the next concert. There’s nothing quite like seeing classical music, or any music for that matter, performed live. Hopefully more people decide to head along to a concert and discover this from themselves!
 
Kelsa McDonald

Kelsa is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassador Review: Handel's Messiah

 Fife Young Ambassador, Kelsa McDonald, describes the performance of Handel's Messiah, Thursday, January 2nd, at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

On the 2nd of January I was lucky enough to see Handel’s Messiah performed at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Unlike the last concert I was at, the RSNO Chorus were present, and there were fewer musicians in the orchestra. There was a harpsichord and a chamber organ, which were particularly interesting for me as I learned about these instruments in school, but have never seen them on stage until now. The oratorio is a term that is taught in music classes but it’s certainly different seeing it performed live than hearing excerpts from it played on a CD player!

Composed by George Frederic Handel in 1741, the famous oratorio features recits and arias, choruses, including the Hallelujah Chorus, and a very brief pastoral symphony. The Messiah was conducted by Jonathan Cohen, who is described as one of “Britain’s finest young musicians”. The arias were performed by four soloists: a Soprano (Lydia Teuscher), a Countertenor (Tim Mead), a Tenor (Benjamin Hulett), and a Bass-Baritone (Neal Davies). As a singer myself, Lydia’s solos and duet with countertenor Tim Mead were particularly enjoyable. I find performing songs from the classical repertoire to be both challenging and rewarding, and watching a professional soprano has inspired me to continue learning these types of songs.

The RSNO Chorus has given me an idea of where I can continue singing as a member of a choir after I leave school. I’ve been a member of Beath’s Junior and Senior Choirs and enjoy singing as part of a group as much as I enjoy singing by myself.

The performance was uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable, and I’m certain that many people left feeling that. It was a wonderful way to start the new year!

Kelsa McDonald

Kelsa is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassador Review: Christmas Concert

Stirling's Young Ambassador, Seona Glen, reviews the Christmas Concert on Sat, 21 December at Glasgow Concert Hall.

In a complete contrast to the Brahms concert I attended the previous weekend, the RSNO took to the stage with Christopher Bell, Chorus master of the RSNO Junior Chorus, as conductor. Very much in the Christmas spirit, the Orchestra performed a number of Christmas pieces, both classics and new arrangements.

The highlight for me was undoubtedly the Orchestra's enchanting performance of The Snowman by Howard Blake. The work was performed alongside the film shown on the big screen, a guest narrator, and a young boy who sweetly sang Walking in the Air. The audience entered a different world as the piano played the famous opening chords. We were brought through a great variety of music, from the beautiful, well known song as the Snowman and boy flew through the air, to the cheerful Dance of the Snowmen, and finally the magical yet sad reappearance of Walking in the Air on the piano. I left the auditorium, as I imagine many others did, in a trance.

After the interval, the mood changed and things became much livelier. The Orchestra performed many pieces with RSNO Choruses, but none left us feeling more in the Christmas spirit than The Penguin Song, in which Chistopher Bell had every person, adults included, hopping about and looking rather daft, while some trombonists unexpectedly appeared at the front of the stage, dressed as penguins! It was a very warm and entertaining evening, and I can't imagine a single person didn't leave the concert hall feeling lifted.

Seona Glen

Seona is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassador Review: Benedetti and Elschenbroich Play Brahms

Stirling's Young Ambassador, Seona Glen, reviews Benedetti and Elschenbroich Play Brahms, Sat 14 Dec at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

The evening at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall kicked off with a pre-concert talk with a difference. Having enjoyed previous talks, I brought my family along, only to find out that Nicola Benedetti and Leonard Elschenbroich themselves would be speaking about the Brahms Double Concerto for Violin and Cello! William Chandler, Associate Leader of the RSNO, asked the couple questions, and the audience listened intently to an in depth discussion about what the masterpiece means to the musicians, and what they have tried to do with it. Nicola described how to her the piece was mostly two voices in agreement, often finishing each other's phrases, with the occasional 'argument'. Leonard and Nicola both agreed that having played together a great deal, they are both very in tune with each other's playing, which did make the rehearsal process easier, but that in order to really connect on stage, they have had to discuss extensively their ideas about each musical phrase. William proceeded to give insight into the two other works which the RSNO would perform with spirit that night: Ravel's Valses nobles et sentimentales, and Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra.

When it came to the concert, I was really able to understand what the musicians had described, and it made the performances all the more interesting. First, the RSNO began with Ravel. The audience enjoyed some sweet melodies from the wind and strings, while there was no shortage of enthusiasm from the orchestra in the more animated sections, in which the percussion section shone through.

There was more to come, however, when the RSNO was joined by the two virtuoso players, Benedetti and Elschenbroich to perform the Brahms Double Concerto. The rhythmic and decisive opening had me captivated, and the pair played with undeniable passion, which the orchestra mirrored. I was particularly interested in what was said during the pre-concert talk about the two instruments being mostly in agreement, and I especially listened out for that, which brought an extra element of interest to the piece for me. The musicians on stage received a well-deserved applause, and the crowds dispersed for a short interval.

On return, the audience's attention was quickly captured with the very sinister opening of Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra, which gave the percussion and lower strings the chance to shine. The piece was tackled with great energy and made for a powerful performance, which had me and the rest of the audience gripped. We couldn't have asked for a more unforgettable finale.

Seona Glen

Seona is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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Young Ambassadors Forum #1: Rebecca Smith

West Lothian's Young Ambassador, Rebecca Smith, describes the first Young Ambassadors Forum and Lugansky Plays The Emperor, Sat 23rd Nov at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. 

Repertoire:

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor) 

Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Encore: Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 6 

The RSNO were on top form last night on the evening of our first RSNO Young Ambassador meeting. It was great to meet all the fellow ambassadors from across Scotland who are all so passionate about bringing music to young people! After our photo shoot we got down to the nitty gritty, and discussed in groups the ways in which we think we can improve the appeal of the RSNO and classical music to our peers. We were excited to find out that work experience for each of us will be arranged in June where we will get to work within our chosen area of the orchestra. We are potentially going to put on our own concert in an unusual venue to invite our friends to, allowing us to bring our favourite music to people our own age. We are really going to make a difference to youth music!

To begin the concert, the colours of the music by synesthete Messiaen were incredible, and were beautifully contoured by the world-class musician’s from the orchestra. The power of the orchestra was not with-held through the Emperor which was fantastic, and the powerful playing from Lugansky added his own passion to the piece. The intricate passage work from the wind section in particular in Symphonic Dances was extraordinary, and I loved the trumpet fanfare. The violin solo from the leader of the orchestra was exceptional, with a wild Russian edge to the sound and rich tone colour. The encore of Brahms was wonderful, and probably my favourite part of the whole concert!

I look forward to the developments of the Young Ambassador team over the next few weeks, and am excited to be attending the RSNO’s ‘Benedetti and Elschenbroich play Brahms’ on Saturday 14th of December at 7.30pm in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Hope to see you there!

Rebecca Smith

Rebecca is part of the RSNO's Young Ambassador scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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