It’s a busy time of year for our Programme Manager, Emma who is in the process of organising and coordinating our National Schools Programme, All Join In and booking in projects across Scotland for our team of Associate Musicians.
Each year we work with a number of local authorities across Scotland to deliver creative and instrumental teaching projects and training to special schools, units and learning centres, and the majority culminate in performances and events at the end. This year we are working in Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll & Bute, Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Inverclyde and West Lothian as well as collaborations with the RSNO, SCO, Nomad Beat and other organisations and independent schools too.
The majority of these projects are funded through the Local Authorities by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative Fund. Our schools projects are also supported by Celtic Foundation, Daisy Chain Trust, D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Dr Guthrie’s Association, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Lloyds TSB Foundation, Irene Ann Macdonald Charitable Trust, Ponton House Trust.
Some key performance dates for your diary…
25th November 2015 – Reid Hall, Forfar – Inclusive performance between two Angus School groups working with us, and the Angus Schools Percussion Ensemble, on the theme of “Mambo” from ‘West Side Story’ by Bernstein (BBC Ten Pieces)
15th March 2016 – Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh – Edinburgh Special Schools, Braidburn, Woodlands and Kaimes and the Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra combine for a second year with their interpretation of Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” (BBC Ten Pieces). This performance is part of the Resonate Concert Series presented by Edinburgh Council.
7th June 2016 – Haddo House, Aberdeenshire – Five of Aberdeenshire’s Special Schools and Units will present their own original compositions based on the theme of “Firebird” by Stravinsky (BBC Ten Pieces).