Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
BBC Proms’ Relaxed Prom
Royal Albert Hall
Monday 27 August 2018
On Monday 27 August, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will present the second ever ‘Relaxed Prom’ at the Royal Albert Hall, conducted by Sian Edwards who makes her BSO debut.
The full Orchestra will be joined by the BSO’s new disabled-led ensemble, BSO Resound. The BSO and BSO Resound will be performing music by Shostakovich, Bernstein, Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, as well as the world premiere of a new work by Alexander Campkin (BSO Change Makers Composer-in-Residence).
The Relaxed Prom is the second of its kind at the BBC Proms and offers an informal environment for all to experience world-class classical music.
The Relaxed Prom allows audience members of all ages to enjoy a symphony orchestra concert in a more relaxed atmosphere.
The concert is open to all audiences, and the environment is specifically adapted for concertgoers with autistic spectrum conditions, those with sensory, communication or learning difficulties and anyone else who would benefit from a less formal environment.
In the year of its 125th anniversary, the BSO is delighted to be performing at the BBC Relaxed Prom.
For 125 years the BSO has been bringing the highest quality of music to audiences around the world and making music more accessible for everyone.
A fundamental part of the Orchestra’s mission is to work beyond the concert hall and BSO Participate offers people across the South and South West the opportunity to engage with and experience music through five specially tailored and distinct strands of activity.
One aspect of work BSO Participate does is through its strand Boost, which focusses on health and wellbeing through music. The BSO has embedded working with people living with dementia at the heart of their practice.
This work has manifested itself in many ways, engaging with people living in the community as well as those in residential and hospital care. The BSO’s work was recognised at the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friendly Awards in November 2017, where it was awarded Dementia Friendly Organisation of the Year.
It was also recognised by the BSO’s Royal Patron Princess Alexandra, who invited the BSO to perform a concert at Buckingham Palace in January.
“As we celebrate the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s 125th Anniversary we are delighted to have been invited to perform at the at the BBC’s Relaxed Prom,” said Dougie Scarfe, BSO chief executive.
“For many years the BSO has been undertaking its ground-breaking work to leverage cultural change to make music accessible to everyone.
“This concert will see the first major UK performance by BSO Resound, our new professional disabled-led ensemble. We are so proud to have BSO Resound as part of our portfolio of ensembles and as a core part of activities, championing world-class inclusive orchestras.”
Another facet of the BSO’s work in inclusivity and accessibility is the Orchestra’s newest ensemble, BSO Resound.
In February 2018, the BSO announced the founding members of its new disabled-led ensemble; Siobhan Clough (violin/ viola), Philip Howells (percussion), Roger Preston (cello), Kate Risdon (flute), Matthew Scott (clarinet) and Charlotte White (LinnStrument)*. The musicians work alongside the ensemble’s conductor James Rose, Composer-in-Residence Alexander Campkin and the ensemble’s Young Composer-in-Association Lucy Hale.
James Rose, BSO Change Maker and Conductor, will lead BSO Resound in a series of public performances and workshops to disabled and non-disabled young people and adults held at special schools and venues. BSO Resound’s first major UK performance will be at the BSO’s Relaxed Prom.
“I am delighted to be performing at the BBC’s Relaxed Prom this summer with BSO Resound and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra,” said James.
“The work of the ensemble is not just an important opportunity for its members but also for its audience. There are barriers facing disabled musicians, and our performance at the Proms will show that inclusivity is possible within classical music.
“I hope that our BSO performance will inspire people, with or without a disability, to engage with music and open up more opportunities for diversity and accessibility in the arts sector.”
BSO Resound began following a funding award from Arts Council England’s (ACE) Change Makers Fund and a generous donation from two private donors.
The BSO is proud to work with the following organisations to support James Rose’s programme with us: OpenUp Music, Drake Music, Victoria Education Centre, Disability Arts Online, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, CODA Music Trust and Falmouth University.
James Rose began his 18-month training placement with the Orchestra in June 2017. A core part of the BSO Change Makers project is the creation of BSO Resound, which James will curate and direct. This project is an opportunity to promote diversity within the orchestral music sector, continuing the BSO’s mission to make its music accessible to the widest possible audiences across the region.
[* LinnStrument is an expressive MIDI controller for musical performance. Unlike the simple on/off switches of a standard MIDI keyboard, LinnStrument’s backlit note pads sense each finger’s subtle movements in five ways, enabling musical performance and expression rivalling that of fine acoustic instruments – Philip R Buttall]
Monday 27 August, 4:15pm – 5:30pm
Royal Albert Hall, London
BSO Relaxed Prom
Sian Edwards conductor
James Rose conductor (Campkin premiere)
James Redwood presenter
Shostakovich Festive Overture
Alexander Campkin New Work – (BSO Resound feature)
Alexander Campkin New Work
Bernstein Fancy Free Dance Variations
Rachmaninov Vocalise
Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty Waltz
Holst Jupiter from The Planets
Philip R Buttall
Top image: BSO Resound. Courtesy of Kevin Clifford.
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