RSNO Takeover 2014, Day 1: Strings

RSNO Takeover is an intensive two-day work experience project which took place at the RSNO Centre on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 June 2014. The young people who have been working with the RSNO's musicians describe their experiences on the first day of the programme.

Niamh Mackaveney, Violin – Tarbert, Argyll
I have really enjoyed my first day working with the RSNO staff and all the other musicians taking part in this fantastic opportunity. We started with a few games to get to know each other and then split off into our departments. I was practicing the orchestra repertoire with the violins, viola and harp. We played through some excerpts from The Nutcracker and I really enjoyed hearing the different parts and playing such a well-known piece. Meanwhile, the Planning department decided on the rest of the pieces, settling on Smetana’s Vltava and Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. Our tutor also did a class on vibrato control which I really enjoyed and felt I learned a lot from. I haven’t had many opportunities to play in an orchestra so I’m really looking forward to the rehearsals and the performance tomorrow.

Seona Glen, Violin – Port of Monteith, Stirling

After getting to know each other we began by splitting into departments. I joined Lorna, a first violinist in the RSNO, along with a few other players; a harpist, a viola player, and two violinists including myself. We began rehearsing excerpts from the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky, followed by Smetana’s Vltava and then the Die Fledermaus overture. After lunch we split into groups and Kenneth gave a talk on finance. We finished the day by making our own rough budget for a concert. It was interesting to learn more about what goes on behind all the concerts. The day was a fantastic opportunity to work with professional musicians from the RSNO. I very much look forward to the full orchestral rehearsal and concert tomorrow, as this kind of work experience with such a prestigious orchestra is very rare.

Aimee Clark, Harp – Glasgow

The day started off well with an hour's worth of games to get to know each other, which I thought was a really good idea as I was quite nervous. We were then introduced to our department where we would be for the next two days. Playing the harp meant there wasn’t a lot of parts for me so I also got to do a bit of marketing which I thought was very interesting as I have never really thought about what actually happens behind the scenes. I got to see how they go about selling their ‘product’ and the amount of researching that actually goes into advertising towards a specific age group. After lunch I went back to a sectional rehearsal to prepare for the concert which was a good ending to the day.

Leah Murray, Cello – Callander, Stirling

Today I learned new bowing techniques and went over the music for the concert tomorrow night. The best bit of today was learning the pieces and the least best part was finance. The whole day was amazing!!! And I’d like to do it again and again. And I got to play in tenor clef, which I don’t get to do very often.

Callum Cronin, Double Bass – Callander, Stirling

Day one consisted of getting to know some of the other people attending the RSNO experience. We played games in order to learn names and then got to sing in a four part arrangement of ‘Drunken Sailor’. Following on from that, me and the other bassist Ben met John Clark and spent the first session playing orchestral excerpts and duets as well as discussing different aspects of playing the double bass. We then broke for lunch then returned to our bass sectionals in which we continued not to work on the concert programme but instead spoke about technique and funny stories that John had from his career.

All the young musicians are part of the RSNO's Takeover scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All views expressed by Takeover participants belong to those of the individual and are not representative of the organisation. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

RSNO Takeover 2014, Day 1: Conducting

RSNO Takeover is an intensive two-day work experience project which took place at the RSNO Centre on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 June 2014. Alice Guse and Isla Ratcliffe, who have been working with RSNO Assistant Conductor Jean-Claude Picard, describe their experiences on the first day of the programme. 

Alice Guse – Glasgow
At the start, after breaking the ice with some fun games, we learnt how to put together a programme for the orchestra that we had available and the notation used in showing orchestra size. We also learnt a lot about concert "rituals" and decided together on how we would change them to suit the type of concert that we are organising. Then I learnt a lot about conducting and how the relationship between thee conductor and the musicians is very important so that everyone feels comfortable; this is done through your attitude, kindness and how clearly you display what you want. I also learnt more about reading full score music and how it is set out, also how to make the notation clear in your head so that you feel as if you know what you are doing. Also being aware of entries and main themes is another thing I learnt is important to show the players and how to show them is significant. I then learnt more about the finance side of things and how much it costs and the thought behind it, overall a fantastic and full day with lots of fun.

Isla Ratcliffe – Edinburgh

Great first day! Spent the first hour playing introducing games before joining the artistic planning department for a couple of hours to decide on the programme for tomorrow’s concert. I learned a lot about what needs to be taken into consideration when putting together a programme: size of orchestra required for each piece; achieving a balanced programme; ensuring that there is a suitable contrast and similarity between pieces, etc. Then out to the park for lunch.

Jean-Claude asked that Alice and I be back half an hour early from lunch to get as much time as possible for practicing conducting. First we practiced in the hall on the podium and then in the conductor’s room where many famous conductors have been. I learned a massive amount from Jean-Claude. It was a very creative experience – the main reason I enjoyed it. I’ve got a lot to practice tonight!

Our last session of the day was budgeting and finance. I’d never before thought about a lot of the things that we discussed so that was quite interesting – and very important of course.

Isla and Alice are part of the RSNO's Takeover scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All views expressed by Takeover participants belong to those of the individual and are not representative of the organisation. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

RSNO Takeover 2014, Day 1: Brass & Percussion

RSNO Takeover is an intensive two-day work experience project which took place at the RSNO Centre on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 June 2014. The young people who have been working with the RSNO's musicians describe their experiences on the first day of the programme.

Callum Bain, Trumpet – Callandar, Stirling
Today we had sectionals and decided which pieces will be played at the concert tomorrow. In our sectionals we focused on our ensemble and intonation. One thing I found challenging today was the transposition in the pieces.  I enjoyed the sectionals with a member of the orchestra. I have learned a lot from this. Today was the first time I had seen the music which with the addition of transposing was a new experience.

Rowan Gaff, Percussion – East Dumbartonshire

I have really enjoyed today. I liked the fun games we played this morning to get to know people’s names and who they were. My favourite part of today was when we were practicing the pieces and I was shown how to play all sorts of percussion instruments in different ways especially when I was shown how to play my tambourine part in the Nutcracker, which looks really difficult. I can’t wait till the concert tomorrow because I know it’s going to be amazing!

Brodie McCash, Timpani – Forfar, Angus

Today in rehearsals we had sectionals where we improved our technique on timpani, snare and clash cymbals and tambourine. I was ecstatic to find out we will be playing Die Fledermaus, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite and Smetana’s Vltava. I was saddened to know that we would not be performing Finlandia by Sibelius. On the whole, I really enjoyed this morning’s and this afternoon’s activities.

Ross Bayne, Trombone – Dundee 

We started off the day by playing different name games, which were quite funny, to introduce everyone to each other. We then went into different rooms with our sections of the orchestra. I went with the brass section as I play trombone. This was interesting because most of the pieces were in tenor clef and I don't usually read music in tenor clef which made it quite challenging but other than that I enjoyed playing the pieces. We then finished the day with a finance workshop which was quite informative. Overall I enjoyed the day.

All the young musicians are part of the RSNO's Takeover scheme, arranged by the Learning and Engagement Department. All views expressed by Takeover participants belong to those of the individual and are not representative of the organisation. For more information, visit the RSNO website.

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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