West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
West of Scotland Schools' Symphony Orchestra (WSSSO) is a symphony orchestra run by the West of Scotland Schools Orchestras (WSSO) http://www.wsso.org.uk/ Trust (which also runs the West of Scotland Schools Concert Band) youth organisations in the west of Scotland
and conducted by James Lowe. It was established in 1996 after the break-up of the former Strathclyde region and provides professional training and performance opportunities for talented young musicians from the West of Scotland
.
with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) Royal Scottish National Orchestra
(RSNO) and the University of Strathclyde
to provide musical activities for its members throughout the academic year.
January: Solo/Concerto competition. An opportunity for members to compete for a chance to feature as a soloist in the Orchestra's programme for the following year.
April: Taster day. Held at the University of Strathclyde
. The orchestra
meets to rehearse and perform a programme in just one day.
May: Joint rehearsal with RSNO
. Held at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
.
June: Residential course. A week-long course, usually held at Carberry Towerlink title, in Musselburgh
. This culminates in a concert
at a venue such as Paisley
Town Hall.
August: Further public concerts. Including performances at the National Association of Youth Orchestras' http://www.nayo.org.uk/ Festival of British Youth Orchestras.
In June 2006, WSSSO premiered Martin Suckling's Morning Star at Motherwell
Town Hall.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and conducted by James Lowe. It was established in 1996 after the break-up of the former Strathclyde region and provides professional training and performance opportunities for talented young musicians from the West of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Partnerships
The orchestra works in partnershipPartnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
(RSNO) and the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
to provide musical activities for its members throughout the academic year.
Calendar
November: Auditions take place. Candidates are required to play a single piece and undertake a sight-reading test.January: Solo/Concerto competition. An opportunity for members to compete for a chance to feature as a soloist in the Orchestra's programme for the following year.
April: Taster day. Held at the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
. The orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
meets to rehearse and perform a programme in just one day.
May: Joint rehearsal with RSNO
RSNO
RSNO may refer to:*Royal Scottish National Orchestra*a generic s-nitrosothiol...
. Held at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall is an arts venue, in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is operated by Glasgow Life, an agency of Glasgow City Council, which also runs Glasgow’s City Halls and Old Fruitmarket venue...
.
June: Residential course. A week-long course, usually held at Carberry Towerlink title, in Musselburgh
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
. This culminates in a concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
at a venue such as Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
Town Hall.
August: Further public concerts. Including performances at the National Association of Youth Orchestras' http://www.nayo.org.uk/ Festival of British Youth Orchestras.
Performances
Concerts are played in venues such as New Lanark, Vikingar, RSAMD concert hall etc. and are well attended; their 2004 performance at the NAYO festival was described as "a very expressive and enjoyable performance."In June 2006, WSSSO premiered Martin Suckling's Morning Star at Motherwell
Motherwell
Motherwell is a town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, south east of Glasgow. The name "Moderwelt" appears on a map of Lanarkshire made by Timothy Pont some time between 1583 and 1611 and printed in the Netherlands in around 1652, although the settlement was probably little more...
Town Hall.