FRIDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2023

EMBARGOED UNTIL PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 11.30AM, TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2023,

ASHTON HALL, CAIRD HALL COMPLEX, CITY SQUARE, DUNDEE

THAT participants making music with Royal Scottish National Orchestra

A musical performance created by participants from the Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust (THAT) ST/ART Project and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) took place today (Tuesday, 28 November) at the Caird Hall Complex in Dundee.

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

The RSNO and the ST/ART Project team work together to create musical experiences for people living with stroke and other long-term health conditions.

Composer Matilda Brown and RSNO musicians worked with a group of eleven participants during a seven-week programme. The Caird Hall complex performance which took place in front of family, friends and guests featured three new musical pieces that the group created together.

The theme of the performance, From Raindrops To The Sea, was developed as a metaphor for some of the challenging journeys experienced by members of the group.

With the support of Leisure and Culture Dundee, the group met regularly in the Ashton Hall in the Caird Hall complex during the programme. The final session today (Tuesday, 28 November) marked the culmination of the programme and celebrated the participant’s creative journeys. The project was supported by THAT volunteer Anne McLaren and ST/ART project co-ordinator, Chris Kelly.

Composer and programme lead, Matilda Brown said, “It’s great to be working with the ST/ART Project again and a fantastic group of musicians from the orchestra. This year we have taken the participants so much further, building on the experience of the core group but also bringing in some new participants as well.”

THAT project co-ordinator Chris Kelly said, “It’s just amazing to see the group work together on such a range of musical instruments and compose elements with the professional musicians.

“The participants take so much from working alongside Matilda and the musicians from the RSNO. It gives a massive boost to their self-esteem and confidence to be working with musicians they have seen perform live on the Caird Hall stage.”

The creative engagement project is a ST/ART Project initiative supported by NHS Tayside.

The RSNO’s work with THAT in Season 2022/23 is supported by Leisure & Culture Dundee Major Music Award, Northwood Charitable Trust, Aberbrothock Skea Charitable Trust,

Leng Charitable Trust, Lethendy Charitable Trust, RJ Larg Family Trust, Tay Charitable Trust and W M Sword Charitable Trust.

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

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138