Music workshop hits the right note with Nairn youngsters
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Top musicians travelled to Nairn for a special workshop with primary pupils, in partnership with a local classical music initiative.
McOpera, made up of professional musicians from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and other creatives from across the country introduced their Winds Storytelling Project to children from Rosebank Primary, 1st Steps and Junior World nurseries.
The interactive workshops introduced the pre-school youngsters to the oboe, horn and bassoon through imaginative role-play and movement.
The workshops are designed specifically to engage with smaller groups of children and staff to offer an informative, inclusive and entertaining experience.
McOpera project management and musician, Sue Baxendale: “McOpera is delighted to have had the opportunity to bring our early years programme to local children and their nursery staff. Music Nairn has an impressive track record of creative engagement with schools and young people, and it has been a privilege to be a part of this exciting journey and to develop our partnership with the club and their local community."
The workshops also included a special musical re-telling of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” composed by Ruth Gipps with commissioned images by Scottish illustrator Ely Strigner.
The workshops were funded and facilitated by Music Nairn, Nairn’s longstanding music society.
Music Nairn invites world-class musicians to Nairn throughout the year to perform at the Nairn Community & Arts Centre and in addition to providing a platform for professional musicians, it also supports and funds a number of creative learning music projects for schools in the area.
McOpera has collaborated with Music Nairn before, notably in 2019 when the musicians worked with children at Auldearn Primary to create an opera called “Expedition”. McOpera has since taken the project across the country.
Joan Noble, chair of Music Nairn: “Music Nairn has over the years been very keen to be part of and bring music to the community as a whole, especially youngsters, who will be tomorrow's players and audiences.
“It was a joy to see how wholeheartedly the little ones responded to the live performance from the McOpera team.
“On June 23rd we're also sponsoring a children's concert in Nairn with favourite movie music played by the Inverness Symphony Orchestra, so an exciting afternoon for the slightly older ones to look forward to!”
The workshop was led by narrator and soprano Cliona Cassidy with the McOpera Wind Trio – Kirstie Logan (Principal Oboe, Orchestra of Scottish Opera), Heather Brown (Bassoon, Scottish Ballet) and Sue Baxendale (Section Principal Horn, Orchestra of Scottish Opera and Project Manager).
Roslin Murdoch, manager of 1st Steps nursery: “The children really enjoyed their time with the musicians exploring the different instruments’ sounds in a very fun and imaginative way.”
