Grand Union Presents: The Isle is Full of Noises

The Grand Union Orchestra – with partners from the worlds of culture, education and academia – is hosting a series of events across a number of East London venues. Musicians from different traditions worldwide will perform together, collaborate with artists from other disciplines and create exciting new work, which could only be possible in a society in which migrants past and present have been a vital living force.

Rich Mix
Sunday 12th April 7.30
Launch of The Isle is Full of Noises
Grand Union Orchestra and guests
Where better to kick off than at Rich Mix, with a launch party introducing the programme and the artists involved in it – world class exponents of instruments from gu zheng (Chinese harp), Turkish saz and Gypsy accordion to steel pan, tabla and African drums – a snapshot of East London today in beautiful musical textures and irresistible dance rhythms!
£12/£8

The Vortex Jazz Club
Friday 17th April 8:30
Bengal Tiger Shanghai Dragon
Virtuoso Chinese, Bengali and Indian musicians, together with Grand Union’s regular jazz soloists, blend their styles and skills in fascinated and imaginative new ways in the intimate setting of this adventurous and wonderfully atmospheric jazz venue.
£12

St John on Bethnal Green
Saturday 18th April 7.30
Sweet Airs that give Delight
… describes very neatly the eclectic repertoire of the Grand Union World Choir, combining singers from every imaginable musical culture, which made its début in Grand Union’s highly-acclaimed show Undream’d Shores at the Hackney Empire last autumn.
£6/£4

Brady Arts Centre
Sunday 19th April 7.30
A Thousand Twangling Instruments
…well, maybe not quite that many, but an apt description of the Grand Union Youth Orchestra! Now over seven years old and still growing, GUYO brings together young musicians from all over London representing major musical traditions worldwide.
£6/£4

Stoke Newington Old Church
Thursday 23rd April 7:30
Take Me To Rio
A new work created by Somali artist Kinsi Abdulleh, in collaboration with Grand Union Second Generation musicians, together with dancers, singers and visual artists from her own company Numbi Arts.
£6/£4

Queen Mary University of London, Arts One Building
Saturday 25th April 10.00 – 6.00
Open Forum
Under the aegis of Queen Mary’s Centre for Migration Studies, this Forum provides the opportunity to debate how artists can reflect and respond to the UK’s changing demographic. Artists will present their work to illustrate the discussion, together with distinguished speakers from the academic world, culture and the media.
Free but booking essential through Eventbrite


Queen Mary University of London, Arts One Building
Sunday 26th, 10.30 – 8.30
Open workshop and final performance
The programme ends with an open workshop led by many of the musicians who have taken part in the previous events, to experiment across cultures and disciplines. However, this is also a social occasion! There will be a bar from 6.00pm and a celebratory performance and party at 7.00pm.
Free

In addition to the events open to the general public, there will be an extensive workshop programme – aimed at recruiting and rehearsing participants and developing the audience: Grand Union Youth Orchestra Masterclass (Rich Mix, April 12th); taster workshop for new members of the World Choir (St John’s, April 17th); World Choir workshop and rehearsal (St John’s, April 18th); workshops for ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) at Tower Hamlets College (April 20th) and student celebration performance of work created (April 24th).

The Grand Union Orchestra was founded over 30 years ago. It brings together musicians from all major musical cultures world wide, creating work that draws on and expresses their experience. It tours nationally and internationally, but has always been based in – and to a large extent takes its inspiration from – East London. It is also widely acclaimed for its participatory work and projects with young people, all resolutely cross-cultural.