91Èȱ¬

Stewart Wilson and Konya Kanneh-Mason show you how to make music using animal sounds and movement inspired by 'The Carnival of the Animals'. No instruments needed, all you will need is yourself!

Stewart is from Prestwick in South Ayrshire and began playing the double bass at the age of 9. He graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2011 with a BMus (Hons) followed by a MMus in 2013. Stewart enjoys performing a wide variety of music and has appeared with UK orchestras such as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Halle and the 91Èȱ¬ Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a member of several jazz ensembles including the Beats & Pieces Big Band whilst he also plays with the folk group, Aizle. He has appeared at festivals around the world including the 91Èȱ¬ Proms, North Sea Jazz, Celtic Connections, WOMAD and others. Stewart has worked for Sistema Scotland since 2013 and spends his week working with the young people at Big Noise Raploch whilst he also tutors for the Benedetti Foundation.

Konya Kanneh-Mason is 20 and holds the Gilling Family Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, where she studies piano with Tessa Nicholson. She was Nottingham Young Musician 2017, and joint winner of the Carlton MVC Music Makers Award 2018. Konya plays solo and chamber music, particularly with her siblings, and has performed in concerts around the UK and in the Caribbean, including performances at Marlborough House to Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall and for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at The BAFTAs, 2018. She has performed as soloist in various concerti including Mozart K414, Shostakovich Piano Concerto No 2, Schumann Piano Concerto and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 7 the Three Pianos (K. 242) with two of her sisters. Konya played Beethoven’s Concerto No. 1 with The Orchestra of the Restoration in 2019 and has also appeared with her siblings on numerous television and radio programmes.

Sistema Scotland believes all children in Scotland have great potential, skills and talents. They recognise that poverty and inequality have a significant impact on the support and opportunities available to some children. Through their community-based Big Noise orchestra programmes, they use music and nurturing relationships to tackle some of these inequalities. Big Noise inspirational musicians work with children in nursery and Primaries 1-3, building skills such as listening, rhythm, teamwork and learning to play an instrument in a group. From Primary 3 the children engage in the long-term, immersive free after-school and holiday club programmes, engaging up to four after-school sessions a week during term time and up to four days each week during spring, summer and autumn holidays.

Independent evaluation of Big Noise led by Glasgow Centre for Population Health has observed a wide range of social and educational benefits, including increased confidence, resilience, creativity, happiness, discipline and fulfilment.