During the challenging times we continue to face, Scottish Ensemble (SE) has launched three events Breathe: Music and Your Mind with Maggie’s that are inspired by their longstanding relationship with the charity.
Since 2016, SE has been supporting and developing their work with people with cancer and their families by bringing live music into their centres. The three new one-hour events, that are free, will bring their music and mindfulness sessions online, and take place on Sunday 28 March at 3pm; Tuesday 30 March at both 2pm and then again at 5.30pm.
SE will continue to share its trademark music for strings, alongside reflections from Maggie’s Lead Psychologist, Lesley Howells, on how we can all use music in our daily lives to help us feel better. Listening to music is one of the easiest ways to enhance well-being and the ensemble is encouraging audiences from all over the world to join them to help restore focus in an uncertain world.
An event has also been programmed for schools to take place on Monday 29 March at 12.30pm with the mental health of young people in mind and tailored to the needs of school age children (years P6-S6).
William Norris, Interim Chief Executive at Scottish Ensemble said “These free events give people a much-needed opportunity to switch off, step back, and put their own wellbeing centre stage. Maggie’s Centres are at the forefront of the quest to improve mental wellbeing with music and conversation, and the way they resiliently continue to improve the lives of so many every single day is truly inspiring. We’re delighted to be working with them again to help bring the soothing and stress-relieving power of music to as many people as possible, and can’t wait to see what this partnership brings in the future.”
In addition to these events, SE announces a new film entitled First Light that is a collaboration between SE and self-described cross-pollinator, soloist, chamber musician, improviser and member of Lodestar Trio and ZRI, their Guest Director Max Baillie. Filmed at the Engine Works, Glasgow by Flux Video, First Light will premiere online on Thursday 29 April at 7.30pm and will be available to view online thereafter for ticket holders until midnight on Monday 7 August. The work will feature works by Haydn, Vivaldi, Jessie Montgomery, Steve Martland and Max Baillie himself, performed by SE musicians Kate Suthers, Kana Kawashima, Tristan Gurney, Laura Ghiro and George Smith on violin, Jane Atkins and Andrew Berridge on viola, Alison Lawrance and Naomi Pavri on cello, Diane Clark on bass and Jan Waterfield on the harpsichord.
Max Baillie, First Light Guest Director, said “It was an absolute pleasure working with Scottish Ensemble to create First Light, which to me symbolises positivity and hope as we look towards spring and the rest of 2021. We have all had to adapt over the past 12 months and to be able to work with such a forward thinking, adaptable and innovative organisation was a hugely refreshing and rewarding experience. I really hope that audiences the world over enjoy First Light as much as I enjoyed making it.”
Details of First Light Ticket are available from the SE website.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 