Big Noise musicians from all over Scotland are tuning up for a performance on Sunday with the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) when Gustavo Dudamel will be conducting.
The Family Concert will take place on Sunday as part of the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) at Usher Hall. There have been many joint rehearsal sessions during a residential stay in Dundee where the Scottish musicians welcomed their American colleagues.
The performance on Sunday is a relaxed performance intended for children and young people with their families.
The joint orchestra will number 95 members with eight of these from the EIF’s Rising Stars programme, and more than 100 other younger members of the Big Noise who will form up as a choir for the event.
There are similarities between Big Noise and YOLA with the way music is taught and its link to social change. Both are inspired by the El Sistema programme which started in Venezuela.
Vicky Williams, chief executive of Sistema Scotland, said: “Everyone at Big Noise is so excited to welcome the young people of the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles to Scotland for this incredible concert, and we can’t wait to see our musicians performing with them on one of the country’s biggest stages.
“Following on from the Edinburgh International Festival’s theme this year being ‘All Rise’, the Family Concert is the perfect opportunity for young people from across the Atlantic to show the power that music has to foster connection, collaboration, and inspire us.
“Along with the concert itself, the residential element of this trip is also incredibly exciting for all of the young people involved, and we hope that the friendships and memories made across this week of music-making stick with everyone involved for a long time to come.”
Caroline Donald, head of discovery and participation, Edinburgh International Festival, said: “The International Festival is a perfect stage to open the doors of the concert hall to families and young people, and make that first encounter with live orchestral music the best experience to kickstart a lifelong appreciation of the performing arts.
“Bringing YOLA and Big Noise together on one stage, under conductor Gustavo Dudamel, is a fantastic reminder of what young musicians can achieve when they’re given real opportunities.
“Both programmes prove that access to music education builds not just skilled musicians, but confident, connected young people.
“We can’t wait to welcome families to the International Festival’s Family Concert for an hour that’s designed entirely for them.”
Camille Delaney-McNeil, LA Phil vice president of learning, said:“One of the greatest gifts music gives young people is the opportunity to connect with one another and the broader world.
“Bringing together the musicians of YOLA and Big Noise is about so much more than performing a concert, creating an experience that reminds these students they are part of a global community connected through a shared love of music.
“We hope they return home not only as stronger musicians, but with new friendships and perspectives that comes from discovering how much they have in common.
“We are incredibly grateful to our partners at Sistema Scotland and the Edinburgh International Festival for making this extraordinary experience possible.”
In Scotland Big Noise is a high quality music education and social change programme and it began in a deprived area of Scotland – Raploch in Stirling.
