Big names set for town hall concerts

Jul 3 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

Big names set for town hall concerts

STRINGS will zing and horns will toot when top orchestras come to Ayr.

And the latest concert series for the town hall looks like being the best ever.

Three great orchestras – Scottish Chamber, Royal Scottish National and BBC Scottish Symphony – are booked.

So too are fabulous soloists like Ayrshire’s own violin star Nicola Benedetti.

The newly-announced 2009-10 Ayr Concert Series will be the 23rd.

And there will be five major concerts in the town hall.

The concert series is presented through a partnership of Ayr Arts Guild and South Ayrshire Council.

Councillor Margaret Toner said: “The last time the RSNO played Ayr Town Hall was 1998.

“And we are so thrilled that Nicola Benedetti is coming home to play the nation’s favourite violin concerto, the Bruch No 1.”

In the 23-year history of the concerts, stars like James Galway, Evelyn Glennie and John Wallace have come to Ayr.

“Ayr Arts Guild is taking more and more responsibility for the series,” said Councillor Toner.

“They co-ordinate dates and provide volunteers on concert nights for the cloakroom, the box office, the programmes and the refreshments.

“The council provides facilities for advance ticket sales and basic data collection.”

The series also attracts a subsidy from Enterprise Music Scotland, with funds provided by the Scottish Arts Council, support from Ayr Common Good Fund and from Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Records show 97 per cent of tickets are sold in Ayrshire to residents in KA postcode areas.

Leaflets on the 23rd series are now available from libraries and other outlets.

They include season ticket booking forms, only available by post.

Single concert tickets will become available on Monday, June 29.

Dates for the concert series are: Wednesday, October 21 – Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conductor Nicholas McGegan, clarinet soloist Maximiliano Martin; Thursday, November 5 – Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conductor Jakub Hrusa, violin soloist Nicola Benedetti; Thursday, December 17, Christmas Classics with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conductor Stephen Bell, presenter Jamie MacDougall; Wednesday, January 6 – Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conductor Nicolae Moldoveanu, soprano Hannah Holgersson; Friday, Februay 19 – BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conductor Christopher Konig, cello soloist Alisa Weilerstein.