On a calm summer’s afternoon you might just catch the sound of classical music drifting up to the castle from the Raploch area of the city below. Recent years have seen a series of regeneration projects provide a new school and housing for the estate.

At the same time there has been an initiative to foster teamwork, confidence, pride and aspiration amongst Raploch’s young people by forming the Big Noise orchestra and teaching them to play classical music. It’s worked wonders and on 29th July they will be performing a concert of popular classics at the castle so the public can enjoy a display of new musical talent.

The project is based on Venezuela’s inspirational El Sistema movement. Big Noise is the first Sistema orchestra in Europe and is such a hit that an amazing eight out of 10 eligible children in the community are now learning music. The lives of a generation are being transformed and playing an instrument is now the norm in Raploch.

The orchestra launched in 2008 with violins, violas, double basses and cellos. Later this year it will add woodwind, brass and percussion to become a full symphony orchestra.

The concert takes place on 29th July at 2.30pm in the Great Hall and is included in the cost of entry to the castle.