Musical event marks completion of new facilities

A concert which will officially mark the completion of a series of improvements to the Younger Hall is to be held on Saturday 28 October 2000.

The gala concert, which is open to all, follows the completion of the disabled access, upgrade of stage and lighting facilities and the purchase of new instruments and equipment, all of which were partly funded by a Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund award of £82,000.

The work enabled by the grant has gifted the Music Centre some of the best facilities for both audience and performers in the Fife and Tayside.

The Younger Hall auditorium is now fully accessible and there are disabled toilets and practice rooms. An Audio Induction Loop is available for the benefit of hearing-aid users. The stage has also been enhanced with new lighting and a flexible stage extension which greatly enhances the range of performances which the hall can host. In addition, there are new practice rooms, instruments (saxophones, cellos, pianos and percussion) and a substantial suite of digital recording and Midi equipment.

The concert, which will start at 8pm, includes perfomances by groups and individuals based within the Centre, making use of as many of the new facilities as possible including the University Chamber Orchestra; Music Centre Youth String Orchestra; Heather Corbett (percussionist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, amongst others); Music Centre Saxophone Quartet and a specially formed choir. Music will include Bach: Cantata 131; Beethoven: Symphony No 1; Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture; Khachaturian: Sabre Dance and Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumble-Bee.

The event will be preceded by a reception and tour of the new facilities for invited guests including representatives of the Scottish Arts Council, groups representing disabled people, local politicians and leading Scottish musicians.

Tickets to the concert are available from the Music Centre – telephone 01334 462226 or email [email protected] – £5 (£2.50 for concessions).

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media on behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information please contact Claire Grainger on 01334 462530, 07730 415 015 or email [email protected] Ref: galaconcert/standrews/chg/13oct2000