Solway Sinfonia’s March concert will celebrate birds, the ultimate musicians of the animal world
The Solway Sinfonia will be showing its wild side this March, with an evening of music inspired by nature and bird song.
The concert, which will be taking place on March 23, will include Berker’s “Themes from the Caerlaverock Suite”, Delius’s “On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring”, and the second movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No 6 “The Pastoral”.
Profits from the concert will be going towards the conservation work of RSPB Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway, as part of the orchestra’s annual efforts to support local charitable work.
The Solway Sinfonia is a not-for-profit amateur orchestra, which draws its members from the south of Scotland and the north of England. This particular concert will be conducted by James Young, who has spent years working with local orchestras, choirs and amateur operatic groups throughout Scotland.
James said: “As spring approaches, I have been thoroughly enjoying working with the Solway Sinfonia in a programme based round the theme of birds, and am very much looking forward to the coming concert.”
Birds are the ultimate musicians and have inspired composers for hundreds of years. The Sinfonia have chosen a range of pieces that reflect this.
“The Caerlaverock Suite”, by Sinfonia lead violinist Sarah Berker, was inspired by her time living at Caerlaverock, and recreates sounds representing birds such as pink-footed geese, greenshanks and curlews.
Also on the programme for the evening will be the flute concerto “The Goldfinch” by Vivaldi, “The Lark In The Clear Air” by Pauline Roe, and part of Symphony No 83, “The Hen”, by Haydn.
RSPB Scotland manages reserves across Dumfries and Galloway, including Mersehead, Wood of Cree, Ken-Dee Marshes, Crook of Baldoon and Mull of Galloway. Funds raised by this concert will go towards helping to protect both iconic species, and some of the area’s most important places for nature.
Crystal Maw is RSPB Scotland’s site manager for the Galloway reserves, and in addition to her skills in nature conservation, she recently joined the Sinfonia as a double bass player.
Crystal said: “I’m over the moon to be part of the Solway Sinfonia. It’s wonderful seeing musicians from all over the region coming together, just doing what they enjoy and creating something magical in a few short hours. Obviously, I’m looking forward to the next concert too, as it’s for a cause very close to my heart. I hope people enjoy it.”
The concert will be taking place at 7.30pm on March 23 in Dumfries Baptist Church Centre. Tickets cost £12, or £6 for students, and accompanied children aged 16 or under, are free.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.dgboxoffice.co.uk/18468, from the Midsteeple Box Office on 01387 253388, or on the evening at the door.
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