THE Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti is to perform for the first time with Dundee Symphony Orchestra in celebration of their 125th anniversary at a special charity concert in Dundee this week, 19 December.
The concert at the Caird Hall will help raise funds for Dundee children’s charity Big Noise Douglas and Tenovus medical research charity.
Over 30 children from Claypotts Castle and St Pius Primary Schools will take to the stage at Dundee’s Caird Hall to perform, supported by some of the Big Noise teachers.
Big Noise Douglas was set up in Dundee last year by Optimistic Sound and Sistema Scotland.
Ms Benedetti said: "I am delighted to be a part of the birthday celebrations of the Dundee Symphony Orchestra.
"125 years is a great achievement. It is also wonderful to give a platform to some of the children from Big Noise Douglas who work so hard and grow in confidence through their engagement with the programme.
"I am proud to be Patron of the Dundee Symphony Orchestra and Big Sister to the children of Big Noise. Perhaps one day these young musicians will also be members of the Dundee Symphony Orchestra!"
Andy Thorn, team leader at Big Noise Douglas said: "The children at Big Noise Douglas have achieved a great deal in the short 15 months since we launched in autumn 2017.
"This event is a unique opportunity for some of the children to perform in one of Scotland's most prestigious venues.
"We're extremely grateful to all of our wonderful partners, particularly Optimistic Sound, for supporting our vital work with more than 450 children in Douglas and Dundee City Council. Sistema Scotland, and all its Big Noise programmes, are committed to transforming lives and bringing meaningful change to communities.”
www.makeabignoise.org.uk
SPAIN will be the country in focus for the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2019.
The festival (EIFF) says it will show work by new and emerging Spanish film makers as well as some the country's most well known.
Niall Fulton, curator of the Spanish retrospective programme, says: “Revolving around a complete retrospective of the brilliant Icíar Bollaín’s directorial feature work, this celebration of modern Spanish cinema also features a dazzling selection of recent Spanish award winners and film festival favourites, and a thrilling late-night strand showcasing some of the finest cult cinema Spain has ever produced.
"As Europe undergoes dramatic changes, this programme is also designed to highlight the cultural importance of the role played by film festivals the world over.
"As political boundaries are drawn and re-drawn around the globe, the artistic line of international communication provided by the film festival circuit becomes more important than ever."
The retrospective programme will entitled Once Upon a Time in Spain and will have three strands: A Retrospective Celebration of Modern Spanish Cinema; A Retrospective Selection of Cult Spanish Cinema and an in-depth celebration of the work of Spanish writer, actor and filmmaker, Icíar Bollaín.
A separate programme of contemporary Spanish cinema will also be shown and the festival will host a number of industry events.
The 73rd edition of EIFF runs from 19 to 30 June next year, and the full programme will be announced on 29 May.
www.edfilmfest.org.uk
THE SUCCESSFUL Irish book company Tramp Press has appointed a Scotland-based publisher as its UK publishing director.
Laura Waddell will move from her position as a publishing manager at HarperCollins.
Ms Waddell also sits on the board of Gutter Magazine, a leading Scottish literary publication, is a Saltire Society Literary Award judge and previously worked for Freight Books, as well as being a mentor for the Scottish Review of Books Emerging Critics.
Reporting to Sarah Davis-Goff and Lisa Coen, co-publishers at Tramp Press, she will now have a special responsibility for UK sales.
She said: "As a longtime admirer of Tramp Press from afar, this opportunity to work with Sarah and Lisa to build presence in the UK feels serendipitous and I am still pinching myself.
"I couldn't be more excited to make a return to team indie publishing working with a publishing house whose ethos I hugely respect and whose exquisite literary list is poised to grow."
Ms Davis-Goff added: "This growth is in line with our ambitions to become one of the best independent publishers at work in the UK and Ireland.
"We’re so looking forward to increasing Tramp’s presence across the UK, and our ideal will be to retain rights to our most successful authors as we grow. Laura is so talented and focused, we can’t wait to get to work next year."
Tramp Press’s recent successes include publishing Sara Baume, Mike McCormack’s Solar Bones and the No.1 Irish bestseller Notes to Self by Emilie Pine.
www.tramppress.com
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