RNS and BSO disabled-led ensembles unite
Florence Lockheart
Friday, February 24, 2023
RNS Moves and BSO Resound will perform a new piece by composer Kate Whitley which will feature all the accessible electronic instruments used by the musicians
Disabled-led ensembles from Royal Northern Sinfonia and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra are set to join forces next month to perform a newly commissioned piece by composer Kate Whitley. The performance will take place on 3 March at Sage Gateshead.
RNS Moves and BSO Resound will perform using newly-invented instruments like the Headspace, designed by German composer Rolf Gehlhaar for RNS member Clarence Adoo who co-founded RNS Moves after a car accident left him paralysed from the neck down and unable to play the trumpet
Talking about the collaborative concert, Adoo said: ‘This is a real beacon of high-quality playing, unique around the world. It doesn’t matter if someone has a disability – music makes a connection to all of us and people can create on all levels.’
The upcoming concert will be conducted by RNS principal conductor Dinis Sousa, and will see RNS Moves and BSO Resound perform accompanied by Royal Northern Sinfonia. The ensembles will perform works by Sibelius, Kodály and Ligeti as well as Falling, a new piece by composer and Multi-Story Orchestra founder Kate Whitley. The work was composed following a series of workshops with Kate and the two ensembles and will feature all the accessible electronic instruments used by the musicians.
Whitley said: ‘It’s been a total pleasure working on this project – it’s an incredible group of musicians and we’ve worked to create the piece together, which has been a really inspiring process. I’m lucky to be a part of it.’