Stars from the worlds of sport and music including celebrated violinist Nicola Benedetti and Olympic heroes Allan Wells, Liz McColgan and David Wilkie, will come together at Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium on Saturday 3 March for Music Nation: A Sporting Fanfare, a unique event, part of Music Nation, a weekend of nationwide live music events counting down to the London 2012 Festival.
Featuring performances from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and world-renowned conductor Donald Runnicles, Music Nation: A Sporting Fanfare brings together world class musical talent and the best of the country’s young musicians and singers.
The event will also feature inspirational tales from some of Scotland’s former Olympians including sprinter Allan Wells, track legend Liz McColgan, swimming star David Wilkie, Paralympic tandem cyclist Aileen McGlynn, diver Sir Peter Heatly and track star Yvonne Murray.
Celebrating the uplifting power of classical music and sporting prowess, the concert will include sporting-themed performances of John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare, Vangelis’s theme from Chariots Of Fire, Ravel’s Bolero, music from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and the world premiere of a newly commissioned fanfare from acclaimed Scottish composer James MacMillan.
Performing alongside the BBC SSO, Donald Runnicles and Nicola Benedetti will be Orkney fiddler Kristan Harvey (BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2011), the National Youth Choir of Scotland, members of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and young people from the Big Noise project in Stirling’s Raploch Estate.
Nicola Benedetti is delighted to be part of the Glasgow event: “I am thrilled to be taking part in the Scottish contributions to the celebrations for Music Nation in the lead up to the Olympic Games.
"Music, culture and sport play a major part in the lives of people up and down the country and I know from personal experience and with working with Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise project, that music can be used as an instrument to change the lives and give aspiration to many, many young people.
"Playing an instrument and taking part in sporting activities are similar – both need hours of practice, commitment, discipline, being part of a team, striving for perfection and of course are a source of great fun!
“Scotland is rich in both musical and sporting talent and I am extremely proud to be part of the celebrations on 3rd March which is really all about showcasing the talents of Scotland’s youth orchestras and choirs as well as hearing about the inspirational achievements of some of Scotland’s great sporting heroes.”
Allan Wells, MBE, says: “The Olympics is such a special event it’s fitting to celebrate it coming to the UK with this unique music-meets-sport concert in Scotland. As an Olympian myself, I want to support the forthcoming London 2012 Olympics and Music Nation promises to be a night to remember with tremendous music performances and sporting recollections.”
Sharon Mair, BBC Scotland Olympics and Commonwealth Editor, adds: “This will be a fantastic evening celebrating excellence and inspiration. It will bring some great Scottish sporting heroes and outstanding musical talent together for a very special event as we head towards the London 2012 Olympics."
Music Nation: A Sporting Fanfare will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Scotland between 7.30-9.30pm and BBC Radio 3 with a TV programme of highlights on BBC Two Scotland the following evening (Sunday 4 March, 2012). TX details to follow.
Music Nation: A Sporting Fanfare
Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium
Saturday 3 March 2012, 7.30-9.30pm
Tickets cost £15 (Under 16s & Students: £7.50) and are available from ticketsoup.com or by calling 0844 395 4000
JW4
Scotland is rich in both musical and sporting talent and I am extremely proud to be part of the celebrations on 3rd March...”
