The Stirling-based orchestra will be joined by their American counterparts for the one-off show
A band from Los Angeles arrived in the Raploch this week as part of an international partnership.
The children and young people of Big Noise Raploch were delighted to welcome their counterparts from YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) and YOLA National Institute (students from diverse regions across the US) to the Raploch Community Campus this week. The YOLA programme is delivered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its community partners.
The visit is part of a short residency in Stirling before the young musicians from both sides of the Atlantic perform in a very special, one-off open rehearsal at the Edinburgh International Festival on Sunday 4 August. The orchestra will be led by world-renowned conductor and Sistema Scotland patron, Gustavo Dudamel, who is the music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The Raploch residency offers a unique opportunity for the young people of Big Noise, YOLA and YOLA National to meet, rehearse together and forge lasting friendships. The rehearsals at Raploch will be led by Los Angeles Philharmonic associate conductor, Paolo Bortolameolli.
The residency will focus not only on music and performance; participants will also take part in a range of activities from sports (introducing the US visitors to the delights of rounders!) to a ceilidh at the Engine Shed in Stirling and a community barbeque at the Raploch campus.
Peter Nicolson, director of music at Sistema Scotland, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the children and young people of Big Noise Raploch, not only to work with incredible artists such as Gustavo Dudamel and Paolo Bortolameolli, but also to rehearse and perform with their own peers from the other side of the world. We are delighted to welcome our visitors from Los Angeles and across the United States to the community of Raploch. It is truly a life-changing experience for our young musicians and one they will remember for many years to come.”
Simon Woods, chief executive of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, said: “This is a special moment, not only for the musicians of YOLA National Institute who will get to spend a few wonderful days of music-making in this beautiful country, but also for myself, having spent a number of years living and working in Scotland.
“I’m very proud to return with my LA Phil family and these talented young musicians from across the USA. We are all looking forward to the open rehearsal with Gustavo Dudamel at the end of this residency, and taking part in this inspiring cultural exchange.”
Sistema Scotland, the charity which runs the Big Noise programmes, was launched in Raploch, Stirling in 2008 with thirty-five children and six musicians. Now more than 2,500 children take part in the programme every week at its centres in Raploch, Stirling; Govanhill, Glasgow; Torry, Aberdeen; and Douglas, Dundee.
