National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra (NSGSO) was formed in 1976 as a joint orchestra of The Scout Association
and the Girl Guides Association
in the United Kingdom
.
The NSGSO slogan is Where else could you turn up as a stranger and leave having met some of the best friends of your life?
Since it was formed, the orchestra has met yearly, undertaking a week-long course, finishing normally with 2 concerts. The orchestra also embarks on a tour abroad approximately every four/five years, past tours have taken the orchestra to USA, Greece
, Germany
, The Czech Republic and, in 2004, Estonia
. The orchestra has also been found performing in such prestigious venues as Westminster Abbey
, St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
and The Royal Albert Hall
as well as performances for Royalty.
The orchestra comprises around 70 Scout and Guides between the ages of 13 and 30. The orchestra recruits new members every year, there are no auditions but recommendations from Scouter/Guider and Conductor/Music teacher must be provided.
Recently, the orchestra has tackled pieces such as Night on Bald Mountain
by Modest Mussorgsky
, Academic Festival Overture
by Johannes Brahms
and Borodin
's second symphony in B-minor.
The course is led by an experienced orchestral conductor and supported by a team of professional musicians as section tutors. Intensive rehearsals are interspersed with an active programme of varied sports, crafts, Scouting and Guiding activities.
Through the National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra, its members gain not only orchestral skills to develop their creative talent, but also the fun and friendship which are integral parts of Scouting and Guiding.
Past conductors include Robert Cracknell, (Martin Crozier), Alan Bell, Lee Marchant and the present conductor is Leon Gee. The inspirational first conductor of the orchestra was George Odam.
The orchestra performed at the scout festival Live07 at the 02 Arena in Greenwich towards the end of 2007. In 2008, it performed at the Edinburgh Festival
playing 'The Great Adventure', a symphony commissioned for the Scouting 2007 Centenary
.
Rodney Newton was comissioned by The Scout Association to write a symphony to celebrate their centenary. The result was "The Great Adventure", which outlines Baden-Powell's life. This was written, and played, by the NSGSO and the 2nd Rossendale Scout Brass Band. Mr.Newton was then commissioned by Girlguiding UK to write a piece for their centenary in 2010. He wrote a shorter piece, called "Centenary Fantasia" which is a medley of well loved campfire songs.
The original courses, in the 70s, were held at Gilwell Park over New Year. Concerts were held in the Royal College of Music in London.
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
and the Girl Guides Association
Girlguiding UK
Girlguiding UK is the national Guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. Guiding began in the UK in 1910 after Robert Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to start a group especially for girls that would be run along similar lines to Scouting for Boys. The Guide Association was a founder member of...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The NSGSO slogan is Where else could you turn up as a stranger and leave having met some of the best friends of your life?
Since it was formed, the orchestra has met yearly, undertaking a week-long course, finishing normally with 2 concerts. The orchestra also embarks on a tour abroad approximately every four/five years, past tours have taken the orchestra to USA, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, The Czech Republic and, in 2004, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. The orchestra has also been found performing in such prestigious venues as Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
, St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
St George's Chapel is the place of worship at Windsor Castle in England, United Kingdom. It is both a royal peculiar and the chapel of the Order of the Garter...
and The Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
as well as performances for Royalty.
The orchestra comprises around 70 Scout and Guides between the ages of 13 and 30. The orchestra recruits new members every year, there are no auditions but recommendations from Scouter/Guider and Conductor/Music teacher must be provided.
Recently, the orchestra has tackled pieces such as Night on Bald Mountain
Night on Bald Mountain
Night on Bald Mountain is a composition by Modest Mussorgsky that exists in, at least, two versions—a seldom performed 1867 version or a later and very popular "fantasy for orchestra" arranged by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, A Night on the Bare Mountain , based on the vocal score of the "Dream Vision...
by Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer, one of the group known as 'The Five'. He was an innovator of Russian music in the romantic period...
, Academic Festival Overture
Academic Festival Overture
Academic Festival Overture , Op. 80, by Johannes Brahms, was one of a pair of contrasting concert overtures — the other being the Tragic Overture, Op. 81, written to balance it as its pair...
by Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
and Borodin
Borodin
Borodin , or Borodina is a Russian last name and may refer to:*Alexander Borodin , Russian composer and chemist*Alexander Parfeniyevich Borodin, Russian scientist in the field of rail transport...
's second symphony in B-minor.
The course is led by an experienced orchestral conductor and supported by a team of professional musicians as section tutors. Intensive rehearsals are interspersed with an active programme of varied sports, crafts, Scouting and Guiding activities.
Through the National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra, its members gain not only orchestral skills to develop their creative talent, but also the fun and friendship which are integral parts of Scouting and Guiding.
Past conductors include Robert Cracknell, (Martin Crozier), Alan Bell, Lee Marchant and the present conductor is Leon Gee. The inspirational first conductor of the orchestra was George Odam.
The orchestra performed at the scout festival Live07 at the 02 Arena in Greenwich towards the end of 2007. In 2008, it performed at the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
playing 'The Great Adventure', a symphony commissioned for the Scouting 2007 Centenary
Scouting 2007 Centenary
The Scouting 2007 Centenary comprised celebrations around the world in which Scouts celebrated 100 years of the world Scout movement. The original celebrations were focused on the United Kingdom, such as the camp on Brownsea Island, the birthplace of Scouting, and the 21st World Scout Jamboree in...
.
Rodney Newton was comissioned by The Scout Association to write a symphony to celebrate their centenary. The result was "The Great Adventure", which outlines Baden-Powell's life. This was written, and played, by the NSGSO and the 2nd Rossendale Scout Brass Band. Mr.Newton was then commissioned by Girlguiding UK to write a piece for their centenary in 2010. He wrote a shorter piece, called "Centenary Fantasia" which is a medley of well loved campfire songs.
Past Courses
- 2011 - Wokingham,Berkshire (Concerts St Nicolas Church, Newbury (Friday 5th August) and Bearwood Colldge Theatre Saturday 6th August)
- 2010- Yorkshire (Concerts at Cleckheaton Town Hall, [Friday August 6] and Bradford Cathedral [Saturday August 8]. Perfromances, and premier, of "Centenary Fantasia" at the Girlguiding UK Centenary celebration, "Fusion" at Harewood House, Harrogate.
- 2009 - Cheshire (Concerts at The Grange School Theatre, Hartford [Friday August 7] and Chester Cathedral [Saturday August 8])
- 2008 - Musselburgh (Concert at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh fringe festival)
- 2007 - Ipswich (Concerts in the Corn Exchange, Bury St Edmunds and St.John's Church, Ipswich). A concert to premier "The Great Adventure" was held in the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, in October. On November 24th, the NSGSO played at Live 07, the Scout Centenary Celebration at the O2 Arena.
- 2006 - Cardiff Bay (Concerts in Bristol Cathedral and Cardiff University Concert Hall)
- 2005 - Barnard Castle (Concerts in Ripon Cathedral and Elvet Methodist Church)
- 2004 - Berkshire (Estonia Tour, concerts at Rakvere Castle and a Masonic Hall, Tallinn)
- 2003 - Fleetwood (Concerts in Marine Hall Fleetwood and Chorley Town Hall)
- 2002 - Reading (Concerts in Holy Cross Church, Camberley and St George's Chapel, Windosr Castle)
- 2001 - Matlock (Concerts at Worksop and St John's Church, Buxton)
- 2000 - Horsham (Concert at Christ's Hospital and Prague Tour, concerts in Karlovy VaryKarlovy VaryKarlovy Vary is a spa city situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately west of Prague . It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370...
, Marianske LazneMariánské LázneMariánské Lázně is a spa town in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. The town, surrounded by green mountains, is a mosaic of parks and noble houses...
and The Church of St Simon and St Jude, Prague) - 1999 - Belfast (Concerts at ColeraineColeraineColeraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
and Waterfront HallWaterfront HallThe Waterfront Hall is a multi-purpose facility, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, designed by local architects' firm Robinson McIlwaine. Practice partner Peter McGukin was the project architect....
Belfast) - 1998 - Durham
- 1997 - Burnham-on-Sea
- 1996 - Cardiff
- 1995 - Norwich (Concerts in Norwich and Ipswich)
- 1994 - Ardingley and tour to Greece
- 1993 - Manchester
- 1992 - Nottingham
- 1991 - Bristol
- 1990 - York and tour to Sweden
- 1989 - Edinburgh
- 1988 - Gravesend and tour to USA
- 1987 - Ipswich
- 1986 - tour to Austria
- 1985 - Bristol, residence was at Gilwell Park
The original courses, in the 70s, were held at Gilwell Park over New Year. Concerts were held in the Royal College of Music in London.