HORSECROSS Arts youth trad orchestra, the Gordon Duncan Experience, will play homage to its roots in March when it performs an intimate gig not far from the Perthshire home of its musical inspiration – Pitlochry piper, Gordon Duncan.
The show in Birnam Arts Centre on Sunday 15 March comes hot on the heels of the group of 13 to 18 year-old’s highly commended performance on the Danny Kyle Stage at Celtic Connections.
Now in its fifth year, the Gordon Duncan Experience bases much of its repertoire on arrangements of Gordon Duncan tunes and is as at home playing traditional tunes by ear as it is in working on complex, scored arrangements.
Although the style is based in the Scottish tradition, it also draws from other musical genres such as jazz, classical and rock.
The ensemble includes a wide range of instruments, not just those normally associated with this style of music.
The band, which is based at Perth Concert Hall and run by Horsecross Arts, is led by musician/composer and arranger, David Milligan (Unusual Suspects), supported by a range of young tutors who are making their own mark in the traditional music world, including Steven Blake (Rura), Laura Wilkie, (Fat Suit) Grant McFarlane (Cherrygrove), Mark Bruce (Elephant Sessions), along with acclaimed Perthshire fiddler, Patsy Reid.
The Gordon Duncan Experience tutors and the newly formed Gordon Duncan Experience Training Band will also be performing at the Birnam Arts Centre gig.
Noëlle Cobden, head of creative learning at Horsecross Arts, the creative organisation behind Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre, said:
“The Gordon Duncan Experience is integral to the Horsecross Creative Learning programme which aims to engage and inspire across all ages using all art forms. Performance experience in a professional venue is vital in enabling our band members to develop their playing skills, so we are absolutely delighted to be working with Birnam Arts to take the band to whole new audience.”
Horsecross Arts will be running taster sessions for the Gordon Duncan Experience and the Gordon Duncan Experience Training Band for local schools in June. For further info contact the Creative Learning team at creativelearning@horsecross.co.uk, phone 01738 477730.
For tickets and info for the gig at Birnam Arts Centre call Horsecross Arts Box Office on 01738 621031 visit www.horsecross.co.uk
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Wendy Niblock/Horsecross Arts contact details…
Contact: Wendy Niblock
Phone: 07884017199
Email: pdochard@horsecross.co.uk
Website: http://www.horsecross.co.uk/whats-on/gordon-duncan-experience
