Fuelled by the latest digital technology, MusicLab – a free pop-up ‘play-and-create’ musical truck returns to Torbay.

From 11 May to 6 June, MusicLab will visit communities in Brixham, Barton, Paignton and Foxhole.

In 2014, almost 1500 people experienced MusicLab in Torbay, including many groups from local communities.

Hosting workshops for schools and community groups as well as public opening hours, MusicLab offers visitors the chance to put themselves in the shoes of a horn, timpani, cello or clarinet player, as well as compose music and watch films about the orchestra and the best thing is…absolutely no experience is necessary.

Each instrument comes complete with its own video tutorial given by a member of the Philharmonia Orchestra who will take you through each note ‘Guitar Hero’ style. Another on-board highlight is ‘Chorus Booth’, a mini recording studio where you can add your voice, or just hum, to what will later become an online mix of all the MusicLab visitors across Torbay.

MusicLab arrives in Torbay as part of iOrchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra’s pioneering digital music project which brings the amazing opportunity to step inside the beating heart of an orchestra to communities across Plymouth, Torbay and Cornwall. For the Torbay leg, the project is supported by Torbay Council and Torbay Music Hub.

ENDS

PHOTOGRAPHY AVAILABLE
For more information, photographs or interview opportunities call:
Isla MacLeod on 07983 447 758 or email isla.macleod@philharmonia.co.uk

For times, dates and locations for all of the above, as well as all related online resources and films, please visit www.iOrchestra.co.uk

Notes to Editors

MusicLab
Free admission
Locations Across Torbay (11 May – 6 June 2015):

Brixham
Brixham Central Car Park, Fore Street, Brixham, TQ5 8DX
Mon 11 - Fri 15 May, 3.30pm-5.30pm
Sat 16 May, 9.30am-5.30pm

Barton
Acorn Youth Centre, Lummaton Cross, Barton, TQ2 8ET
Mon 18 - Fri 22 May, 3.30pm-5.30pm
Sat 23 May, 9.30am-5.30pm

Paignton
Paignton Green, Off East Esplanade, Paignton Seafront, TQ4 6BW
Mon 25 May - Fri 29 May, 11am-3pm
Sat 30 May, 9.30am-5.30pm

Foxhole
The Co-operative, Foxhole Road, Foxhole, Paignton, TQ3 3SS
Mon 1 Jun – Fri 5 Jun 3.30pm-5.30pm
Sat 6 Jun, 9.30am-5.30pm

School & Community Group Visits
MusicLab can host up to 30 visitors at a time (or a class of 30 school children with accompanying teachers and adults) and will be open for curated visits for school and community groups outside public opening times. Advance booking is essential. For more information and how to sign-up, as well as activities for other local community groups and open visit times for the whole community, please visit www.iOrchestra.co.uk or contact Torbay Project Co-ordinator Laura Forster:

Email: laura.forster@philharmonia.co.uk
Phone: 07943 376 893

What’s Inside MusicLab?
The iOrchestra truck contains a unique 'play-and-create' experience with something for everyone. MusicLab hosts an orchestral opportunity for both experienced musicians and those who have never picked up an instrument before. Visiting communities across Plymouth, visitors will be able to:

- Receive a tutorial in the French horn, the cello, the timpani and the clarinet from Philharmonia Orchestra players;
- Explore every instrument in the orchestra, using our central controls which give you a chance to play, compose and produce;
- Sing-along with the Philharmonia Orchestra in Chorus Booth creating a huge virtual choir from each location that we visit and across the whole south-west peninsular;
- Explore the life of the Philharmonia Orchestra - playing concerts, film scores, making video-game music and more - through our video bench which provides a guided tour of our work;
- Experiment with the orchestra's four instrumental families and explore how each of them makes sounds both familiar and strange, using Hi-5!

To find out more about MusicLab and for a look at what it’s like inside, you can watch our MusicLab trailer online at www.iOrchestra.co.uk

Philharmonia Orchestra
Acknowledged as the UK’s foremost musical pioneer, with an extraordinary recording legacy, the Philharmonia Orchestra leads the field for its quality of playing, and for its innovative approach to audience development, residencies, music education and the use of new technologies – including digital installations such as the multi-award-winning Universe of Sound, webcasts, podcasts, downloads and computer games – in reaching a global audience. Together with its relationships with the world’s most sought after artists, most importantly its Principal Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Philharmonia is at the heart of British musical life. www.philharmonia.co.uk

Torbay Music Hub
Torbay Music Service, Torbay council, is the lead organisation for Torbay Music Hub – schools and organisations working together to inspire and enable a musical journey for every young person in Torbay. Currently, all schools work with the Hub to provide a period of free instrumental tuition for every child and to provide choirs and ensembles for all. Additionally organisations such as Wren Music, Torbay Music Service and Torbay and South Devon Music Centre provide out of school choirs and music groups for all standards and ages. Bursaries are available to support instrumental tuition for those entitled and Torbay Music Service provides an Instrument Hire Service. A variety of workshops and performance opportunities through the year, give young people the opportunity to share their talents and to work with established professional musicians.