TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PICTURE ATTACHED. PARTICIPANTS FROM THAT WITH MUSICIANS FROM RSNO AND THAT PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR CHRIS KELLY (FAR RIGHT).

From ice to spring flowers with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra

A new musical celebration created by participants from Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust (THAT) ST/ART Project took place at the Marryat Hall in Dundee.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) and THAT’s ST/ART Project, work together to create new musical experiences for participants living with stroke and other long term health conditions. The theme of the work took the audience of family, friends and other guests from melodies of the cold of winter to the optimistic melodies of a new spring.

Composer Matilda Brown and a collection of RSNO musicians, including the leader of the Orchestra Maya Iwabuchi, performed with a group of eight participants to deliver four compositions that Matilda and the group developed over three months.

With the support of Leisure and Culture Dundee, the group was able to meet regularly in the Marryat Hall. The final session marked the culmination of the programme and celebrated the creative journey everyone has been on. The project was supported by ST/ART project co-ordinator, Chris Kelly.

Participants of the programme were also invited to a full orchestra performance in the Caird Hall, Dundee.

Composer and programme lead, Matilda said, “The participants are a wonderful group to work with and to be able to work together face-to-face was fantastic. I worked with some of them online last year, so to follow that up by working in the same room, handling all sorts of instruments, from traditional percussion and piano to music technology software and iPad instruments, has been so fruitful. We built a strong bond through the programme that allowed us to overcome any difficulties and share a musical vision that represented all of us. Working with people both as a group and individually ensured we carried everyone along on the journey.”

THAT project co-ordinator Chris Kelly said, “This is a further development in our partnership with the RSNO. Working with the group of participants in this way let them give so much to the experience. Participants worked together on musical instruments they hadn’t played in years, composed elements together and collaborated fully with the professional musicians.

“They felt empowered working alongside musicians from the RSNO. This gave individuals a boost to their self-esteem and wellbeing by sharing a music making experience with musicians they had seen perform live on the Caird Hall stage.”

The creative engagement project is for people in Tayside who have had a stroke or acquired brain injury. It is a ST/ART Project initiative supported by NHS Tayside.

The RSNO programme is one of a range of art programmes for people with long term conditions currently being delivered by Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust, which promotes creative engagement with the arts to enhance participant’s health and well being.

The RSNO’s work with Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust in season 2021/22 is kindly supported by Leisure & Culture Dundee Major Music Award, Northwood Charitable Trust, Leng Charitable Trust, RJ Larg Family Trust and Tay Charitable Trust.

For further information, please contact Chris Kelly on 01382 835507 or email chris.kelly2@nhs.scot

Contact:

Lyndsey Daun

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138