Benedetti’s El Sistema master class

The Herald reports that Nicola Benedetti, Scotland’s leading classical music star, is to apply her lauded talents to a revolutionary music programme. 

The chart-topping violinist is to become a regular teacher and performer at the Big Noise project in Raploch, Stirling, the music initiative for children based on Venezuela’s El Sistema project. 

The acclaimed musician may even play alongside the young talents being encouraged and taught to play classical music on the estate once known more for deprivation than its home-grown orchestra.

'Venezuela’s El Sistema has caused a lot of excitement and I was absolutely thrilled and proud when I heard an orchestra had started in Scotland,' she said. 'Sistema Scotland and its Big Noise Orchestra are demolishing barriers and taking classical music to a whole new audience. That’s something I feel passionately about so I just had to get involved. I can’t wait to meet the children.'