SCO NEWS

a wOndeRFuL weekend in wüRzbuRg

––––––by Stewart Roy, SCO Patron ––––––On Friday 3 June, 38 intrepid supporters of the SCO (just how intrepid will become clearer later) gathered at Edinburgh Airport to fly to Germany to hear the Orchestra perform in the Mozartfest in Würzburg.

After arriving in Stuttgart we travelled by coach to Würzburg via Rothenburg, where our trip down the Romantic Road began. After a stop for lunch in Rothenburg (the location for the outdoor shots in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and a guided walk round the picturesque town centre, we continued on our way to Würzburg.

On the Saturday morning, a number of us enjoyed a guided walking tour of the old town centre, finishing with a visit to the Residenz, where the concert was to take place that evening. The Residenz was built between 1720 and 1744, and is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It is famous for a splendid Baroque staircase, and its centrepiece is the Kaisersaal, where the concert was held.

Summer Palace at Veitshöchheim

There were two festivals in town that weekend, the Mozartfest in which the SCO was participating, the other being a festival of wine, celebrating the local Frankenwein in its distinctive bottle, the ‘Bocksbeutel’. Since our afternoon was free, several of us decided to taste what was on offer in the ‘Weinfest’, on the central Marktplatz. The purpose of the trip, indeed the highpoint, was the concert given in the evening by the SCO. This included Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 20 and his Symphony No 39. The soloist was Kit Armstrong. His performance combined an impressive sensitivity with outstanding virtuoso technique, moving from an elegiac slow second movement to Mozart’s

exuberant sense of fun in the final third movement. Judging by the reaction of members of the German audience, some of whom had travelled a considerable distance to hear the SCO play, they found the Orchestra on top form, its contribution to the Mozart Festival programme adding greatly to its reputation beyond Scotland. The concert was followed by a superb reception in the Residenz Weinkeller, hosted by the festival organisers, where we were joined by members of the Orchestra.

The Sunday we had to ourselves, with more concerts for those who wished. Others chose to climb up to the Festung Marienberg, a fortress which overlooks Würzburg from its vantage point on the hill to the south of the River Main, or to take the trip down river to Veitshöchheim to visit the magnificent Rococo Court Garden of the Prince Bishops’ Summer Palace.

On Monday we travelled by coach to Augsburg, stopping for a guided walk round Dinkelsbühl, then Nordlingen for lunch and finally via Donauworth. The weekend was completed on the Tuesday by the morning spent in Augsburg, a guided walk round the centre of Munich in the afternoon, then finally to Munich airport for the flight back to Edinburgh. Which is where our resilience and intrepidity were put to the test. The flight which was scheduled to depart at 9.45pm was cancelled about half an hour before midnight, and we finally left at 10.30am the following morning!

On behalf of the group, I would wish to record our appreciation of the way we were looked after by Barry Ferguson and Adam James, the two SCO representatives on the trip. ––––––Würzburg Patrons’ Trip 3-7 June 2016

SCO ReConnect led by dr Jane bentley, a specialist in music in care settings, with alison green (bassoon) and nicola boag (Viola)

SCO ReCOnneCT

––––––by Kirsteen Davidson Kelly, Director of SCO Connect ––––––For the last three years, SCO Connect has been conducting interactive music workshops on dementia wards in Edinburgh, in collaboration with the Institute for Music in Human and Social Development (IMHSD) at the University of Edinburgh and with NHS Lothian. These workshops have been extremely well received, with positive feedback from caregivers, occupational therapists and relatives. In addition, the SCO musicians have found the improvisatory, interactive workshops extremely rewarding, both personally and musically, and a growing group of SCO musicians have dedicated their time and energy both to the ReConnect workshops and to undertaking additional training to enhance their skills and experience in working in dementia settings. Building on this success, the Chief Scientist Office has awarded research funds to Dr Katie Overy, Dr Graeme Wilson and Dr Sheila Rodgers, University of Edinburgh, to conduct a pilot study into the feasibility of running full-scale research into the potential benefits of interactive music workshops to people living with dementia.

it was the first time i’d seen my mum smile in two years

Patient’s son

For us it has been difficult to find something to which she would respond. Music seems to give her something. it’s great to see her engaging again.

Patient’s relative

The aim of the pilot study is to evaluate eligibility, recruitment and retainment rates, which will inform the design of possible future research. The pilot study is currently running on a dementia ward in Edinburgh and led by Dr Jane Bentley, a specialist in music in care settings. The musicians taking part this year are Alison Green (bassoon), Donald Gillan (cello), Aisling O’Dea (violin), Peter Franks (trumpet), William Stafford (clarinet), Nicola Boag (viola) and Lawrence Gill (clarinet). SCO ReConnect is generously supported by the Queensberry House Trust.

If you would like to find out more about ReConnect, contact Anna Hainsworth, SCO Connect Officer (Communications and Outreach), on 0131 478 8342

ThROwbaCk –––––

The SCO “Truck” on the Highlands tour in 1986. We have come a long way since then!

Our new truck at the kaisersaal in würzburg

win £250

250 SOCieTY Please join us in congratulating recent winners of our 250 Society draw who each won £250.

May 2016 – Josepth H Wright June 2016 – William Duthie July 2016 – Mary Brady August 2016 – Michael Pell

It costs just £5 a month to become a member of the SCO’s 250 Society and be in with a chance of winning a monthly prize of £250. All proceeds go towards helping to fund the work of SCO Connect. To join, simply download the SCO 250 Society membership form at www.sco.org.uk/support-us or contact Adam James on 0131 478 8344. On The ROad again…

––––––This summer we welcomed another shiny member to the SCO – our new truck finally arrived! Specially designed over several months between our Stage Manager Pete Deane and the engineers at Man Trucks to suit the SCO’s needs, it has already taken a trip abroad to Würzburg (see image) where we performed in the Mozartfest in June. It has also been transporting our instruments around Scotland, from the

Highlands to the West Coast and down to the Scottish Borders, as part of our summer touring programme. We purchased the truck with generous support from the Scottish Government.

ViRgin MOneY SChOOLS COnCeRT

auguST 2016

––––––On the final day of the Edinburgh International Festival, SCO VIBE gave an exuberant performance at the Virgin Money Schools Concert – to an audience of more than 1700 pupils from 31 Edinburgh City Council schools. The music, developed collaboratively by the performers, was inspired by the musical themes of the evening’s Virgin Money Fireworks Concert.

––––––SCO VIBE is delivered in partnership with Drake Music Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council.

60

SeCOnd inTeRView MAXIMILIANO MARTÍN

Our new Season presents opportunities for you to take centre stage as a soloist. what are you most looking forward to? I look forward to every concert in the Season. It is such a privilege to take solo spots so I try to make the most of each occasion. The concert I am most looking forward to is the world premiere of the Cresswell Clarinet Concerto (May 2017). Lyell (Cresswell) and I have been in touch quite a lot over this year. We have met a few times to discuss the work and go over certain passages, and it is very helpful for the performer to know what the composer has in his mind to be able to attempt it. Lyell has heard me play many times, so he knows my playing very well.

how do you prepare for your solo performances? One of the important things about solo performances or concertos is to give time for the work to settle and prepare in plenty of time so that when the day comes it is already in your bones. Then you can concentrate more on performing and not just worrying about certain passages.

what is your all-time favourite work for clarinet? I have many favourites, but probably Mozart, Weber and Nielsen concertos are at the top of my list. Then Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. Brahms’ Sonatas and Quintet are also very special to me. Difficult to point out a single favourite – we have so many! ––––––Maxi will perform Strauss’ Duet Concertino alongside SCO Principal Bassoon Peter Whelan in Dumfries, Glasgow and Edinburgh on 15-17 December 2016