Scottish Chamber Orchestra to bring ReConnect programme into the community

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s ReConnect programme – a series of interactive music workshops for people living with dementia – is to take place in a public space for the first time on 11 March.

Launched in 2013 in partnership with the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, SCO ReConnect is a programme of interactive workshops using music to enhance wellbeing and social interaction for people living with dementia. Over the last six years SCO ReConnect has taken place in hospital settings – the first public workshop will be held at St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh on Monday 11 March at 11am as part of the Mad Hatter, Grey Matter Festival 2019, which aims to explore creativity and neuroscience.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra at Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Canaan Ward.
Photo credit: Fraser Band

Musicians Alison Green (SCO Bassoon) and Su-a Lee (SCO Cello) will join community music specialist Dr Jane Bentley to lead the workshop, open to anyone living with or affected by dementia in the community. Participants are invited and supported to join in by singing, playing instruments, improvising and listening. No musical expertise or experience is required.

Nicola Benedetti to give key note speech at the Music & Drama Education Expo

On 6 March violinist Nicola Benedetti will deliver the key note speech at the Music & Drama Education Expo, London.

As one of the world’s leading advocates for the role of arts and culture in the wider community, Benedetti’s speech will focus on her support for music education and her views on technical and musical approaches to playing. This will be followed by a fireside chat with Cameron Bray, editor of Music Teacher Magazine, discussing Benedetti’s own experience of music education, her career highlights and advice for budding musicians.

Photo credit: Andy Gotts

From 24 February – 6 March, Benedetti will continue her commitment to education projects working with a range of young musicians aged 7 to 20 as well as teachers, having worked with over 2,000 students and 500 teachers in the last 12 months. This will include visiting a primary school in Tulse Hill and working with organisations such as the London Music Fund, London Music Masters, The Nucleo Project and MiSST as well as visiting more advanced musicians at The Yehudi Menuhin School and the Royal College of Music.

Dominick Argento, lauréat du prix Pulitzer de musique, est mort

Le compositeur Dominick Argento, lauréat du prix Pulitzer, qui a écrit des œuvres musicales inspirées de la vie et de la littérature d’Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, Casanova, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Henry James et Virginia Woolf, est mort mercredi 21 février. Il avait 91 ans.

Il avait obtenu le prix Pulitzer de musique en 1975 pour From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, cycle de chansons interprété par Janet Baker. Il a également remporté, en 2003, un Grammy Award pour la meilleure composition classique contemporaine,  Casa Guidi, enregistrée par la mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade et le Minnesota Orchestra.

Né à New York, en Pennsylvanie, il a obtenu des diplômes de premier cycle et d’études supérieures du conservatoire Peabody. Il a étudié en Italie après avoir obtenu des bourses, est devenu directeur musical du Hilltop Opera de Baltimore et a enseigné à l’Eastman School, à Rochester. En 1958, il s’est joint à la faculté du département de musique de l’université du Minnesota, où il a enseigné jusqu’en 1997 et a ensuite occupé le poste de professeur émérite.

The Minnesota Orchestra family is deeply saddened by the passing of Dominick Argento, our longtime Composer Laureate, pictured here with former Music Director Sir Neville Marriner. https://t.co/5J8j9ZT4CZ pic.twitter.com/iu8Fmvi4z4

— Minnesota Orchestra (@mn_orchestra) February 21, 2019

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Dominick Argento, who wrote musical works inspired by the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, Casanova, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Henry James and Virginia Woolf, died Wednesday, 21st February. He was 91 years old.

He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1975 for From the Diary of Virginia Woolf. He also won a Grammy Award in 2003 for best contemporary classical composition, Casa Guidi, recorded by mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and the Minnesota Orchestra.