Big ambitions for RSNO’s Big Highland Residency

One of the many complications in the mind of a critic is how best to deal with work that has a 'community focus.' There is a great deal of guff spoken about how community organisations can make 'professional' performance (although professional isn't really a marker of quality). It might seem like a small matter  - does it really matter if youth companies get reviewed in the national papers, it hits at the heart of 'what art is for.'

There are even a few people who maintain the community side of theatre is more important than the professional, that participation is more socially useful than watching.

The RSNO are heading north for a residency, and the press release offers a chance to look at how professional and community can overlap.

Press release begins...

Scotland’s national orchestra collaborates with communities in the north of Scotland and presents a springtime celebration of music-making, from 31 March to 5 April.

'Music-making' - not appreciation or listening: this marks it up for me as being as much about the audience as the musicians.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) will connect with the music-loving communities of Inverness and surrounding area for The Big Residency, a week-long celebration featuring cross-community performances, workshops, interactive sessions, concluding with a full symphonic concert, from Monday 31 March to Saturday 5 April.

Look: there is community, right there. Pleased to see they are putting on a Big Show as well: it would be a bit disappointing if one of Scotland's major orchestras turned up in my town and handed the stage over for a primary school jam session without knocking out a few tunes.

Since the launch of the RSNO’s umbrella programme RSNO Engage last year the Orchestra has broadened the scope of its Learning and Engagement remit and is committed to developing longer-term relationships with communities across Scotland. Behind the scenes, RSNO musicians have, since September 2013, been working with young musicians from Inverness-shire, Wick, Thurso, Skye and Aberdeenshire, preparing them for forthcoming performances with Highland Regional Youth Orchestra, Highland Youth String Orchestra and Highland Schools Wind Band. In addition, over the last eight months RSNO players have been in residency in the Highlands offering open masterclasses for wind and string musicians aged 16 to 18.

Perfect: active engagement with local communities - opportunities for players (although it is in the youth sector, so I won't be getting in) - that encourages the future professionals without imposing a new Brand on existing companies. 

In association with Eden Court Theatre, Highland Council and supported by the Press and Journal and Highlife Highland, The Big Residency will be showcasing the ongoing work in a series of composition workshops, tailor-made performances for young people, cross-genre performances and a full symphonic concert.

The start of the week features RSNO on the Road, RSNO musicians including RSNO Principal Trombone Dávur Juul Magnussen, will be visiting schools across the area to lead a series of workshops from improvisation.

The critically-acclaimed Teddy Bears’ Picnic, performances for 3-5 year-olds, comes to Inverness for the first time, on Wednesday 2 April at Eden Court Theatre (10.00am and 11.30am). These story-led informal performances encourage participation from young concert attenders and their families. Receiving a five-star review for a similarly themed performance in 2013, the Herald described it as, “…a new concept, with a fresh and seamless presentation.” Wednesday also features performances for early school-years children and their families, Steve and His Seriously Tall Ladder, at the Eden Court Theatre (1.30pm, 4.00pm).

See what I mean about newspapers being off-target? Sure, the Teddy Bears' Picnic is a lovely idea but story-telling and orchestration... Peter and the Wolf anyone?


Boys United is a brand new initiative for the north of Scotland. In 2006 Director of the RSNO Junior Chorus Christopher Bell started a vocal ensemble for boys whose voices were changing. Changed Voices helps guide members - boys aged 13-18 - through that process of change. A programme inspired by the success of Changed Voices, Inverness will play host to Boys United, for the benefit of young male singers seeking to develop their ability before their voices change. With Christopher Bell visiting participating schools for preparatory sessions in the preceding weeks, the Empire Theatre at Eden Court will be filled with boys from P6 to S1 onThursday 3 April, for a day of practical exercises and informal performances.


Christopher Bell, Director, RSNO Junior Chorus: “I'm delighted to be able to come to Inverness and work with the young singers, helping to set them on the path to finding their voices. We have some great songs which will really enthuse our ensemble."

This is intriguing - although I don't envy the task of Christopher Bell here: a room full of boys at exactly the moment they are becoming young men. The smell of Lynx Africa hangs heavy...

Over the past four months, RSNO musicians have been collaborating with performers from Eden Court Community Dance Company and from Cashback for Creativity, developing a new performance. RSNO Remix will receive its première on Friday 4 April (6.00pm) at the Eden Court Theatre. It will incorporate remixed classical music - in this case Praeludium from Grieg’s Holberg Suite - digital animation and contemporary dance, creating a show that blends reworked music with two alternative but complementary art-forms, revealing ways in which traditional works can be placed in a modern context.

Intriguing stuff: and I love the dance. This is partially about introducing new audiences to orchestral music - as long as they aren't just sticking a four-to-the-floor beat on it. The danger might be that 'contemporary' dance is more niche than classical music (hey, it is people like me who love it). 


On Friday 4 April the RSNO presents Vaughan Williams’ Fifth, a full symphonic concert at Eden Court Theatre, featuring Vaughan Williams’ serene Fifth Symphony alongside Berlioz’ Helios Overture and Stravinsky’s ballet music Pulcinella, with conductor Jean-Claude Picard, whom the media recently described as “…clearly a man with a strong sense of fluidity, dynamism and style.” Contact the Eden Court Theatre website (www.eden-court.co.uk) or phone the Box Office on 01463 234234.


RSNO Assistant Conductor Jean-Claude Picard: “I was excited when I was offered the chance to conduct the RSNO for a concert as part of the Big Residency week. We have a great programme for you, featuring the Orchestra in all its splendour. I’m very much looking forward to sharing this music, in this excellent venue of yours that is Eden Court.”


Musicians and singers from the local area are invited to join the RSNO on Saturday 5 April for RSNO Collaborate, a day of coaching and guidance, culminating in an informal performance at Eden Court, to which friends and family are invited to come and see participants play and sing side-by-side with the RSNO. Workshops are from 10.00am until 5.00pm, with the final performance at 6.00pm. It is recommended that musicians be of Grade 4 standard or above. Singers can be of any ability but some experience is preferred as sheet music will be used for some of the pieces. Repertoire for the day will be a mix of classical, traditional and popular songs and will include: Vivaldi’s Gloria, Scottish traditional songs: Johnnie Cope and Will Ye No Come Back Again, and Sing by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

They had me until Gary Barlow.