Wick to host free performance of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Concerto Grosso for Strings to mark 75th anniversary
A huge string orchestra will be gathering in the Wick Assembly Rooms this Saturday, under the baton of conductor Susie Dingle, rehearsing alongside and being coached by five members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
There will be a free, informal performance, open to the public, at 4pm, with donations being collected for the Henry Rosie Fund supporting young musicians in Caithness.
This one-day event has been organised through the collaboration of the musical social enterprise caithnessmusic.com, the Caithness Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO).
“The SCO team introduced us to this amazing work written by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, and we agreed that it would be just perfect for our inclusive musical community here in Caithness,” explained Susie Dingle.
“Vaughan Williams was writing for the young musicians of the Rural Music Schools Association Orchestra, and so he carefully crafted parts for all levels, from complete beginners up to professional standard.
“The Concerto Grosso for Strings was first performed in the Royal Albert Hall, London in 1950, by over 400 players from rural music schools from all over England. We are aiming to replicate the excitement and the inclusivity of the premiere here in Wick, to mark the 75th anniversary of the work.”
Amateur players from all over the north Highlands and Orkney will be gathering for a series of rehearsals throughout the day on Saturday, culminating in a spectacular 20-minute performance at 4pm.
For most of the musicians, this will be the biggest string orchestra they have ever played in, and for some of the learners, this will be the first time they have ever played with an orchestra. The concert is suitable for all ages and everyone is welcome.
The event has been generously supported by the Vaughan Williams Foundation, the Daniel Maclean Memorial Fund, the Caithness Music Festival’s Henry Rosie Fund, the Stroupster Wind Farm Community Fund and the RWE Camster Wind Farm Community Fund.
Leading up to the event, many of the Caithness Junior Orchestra players have been participating in a sponsored “Practice-a-thon” where the young musicians pledge to practice at home every day for two weeks and are collecting sponsorship at https://www.justgiving.com/page/caithnessmusic to raise funds for the chosen charity, Young Lives vs Cancer.