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On Sunday 25th June, 50 members of the Bristol Reggae Orchestra (BRO) and Windrush Choir will be opening the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival.

Invited to perform by the Eavis family, the Bristol-based community Orchestra and Choir will celebrate the Black British contribution to the UK conveying Windrush stories, through original and classic reggae music, in a 30 minute set.

“We are honoured to have been asked to perform at this prestigious festival and for the platform to celebrate multiple generations of Caribbean people who have given so much to the society we live in today - we’ve planned a fantastic show, looking forward to sharing it with the Glastonbury community” Rebecca Scott, Orchestra Leader

We believe this is the first time a reggae orchestra and choir have performed together on the Pyramid. It is the first formal concert for the BRO collective since their sold-out debut at Bristol Beacon in Oct 2022.

Choir Director, Orgena Rose says “I am incredibly honoured to be leading and singing with this historic choir to acknowledge and pay tribute to the people of the Windrush generation. Music is a perfect way to celebrate their legacy as it is a universal language and afro caribbean music, especially, reminds us that we are One Love, and have the power to change our lives and change our world.” 

Bristol Reggae Orchestra and Windrush Choir open the stage at 11am. Visit Bristol Reggae Orchestra website and social media to follow the adventure as we prepare for this incredible show. See you there!
ENDS

Notes to editors
Photos
Mark Simmons and Michael Lloyd (photo copyright labelled individually)
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ja1ir5tkqdz54rl/AABnnGbuh6T9PcXK8noiGYsla?dl=0 
Mark Simmons’ historical work
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2021/oct/14/massive-attack-roni-size-and-more-bristols-musical-mavericks-in-pictures    
Press Contact
Ella Scotland-Waters
info@bristolreggaeorchestra.com

Bristol Reggae Orchestra
Bristol Reggae Orchestra (BRO) registered charity number 1180167 was established as a community group in 2010. We are the only community-based reggae orchestra in the UK and have a unique combination of instruments and skills. BRO has created new musical fusions working with other migrant communities and refugees and successfully engaged thousands of local people through active participation and performance. Our Patron is Gary Crosby OBE, a British jazz double bassist, composer, music arranger, and educator.
BRO was established to reach out to diverse communities living in Bristol, extending opportunities for music-making to excluded groups while creating high quality creative outputs and inclusive performances. We have worked with a range of local partners including Malcolm X Community Centre, St Agnes Church, St Paul’s Carnival,  Bristol Beacon, St George’s Bristol, UWE and national partners including The Southbank Centre. We perform regularly for the Malcolm X Elders groups in participative events and are well known for the ‘feelgood’ factor that we create for all participants and audiences.
We have a strong track record. We premiered Kim Moore’s ‘Edgelands’ at St Georges, Bristol with groups from local schools (broadcast by BBC Radio 3 in 2014). Evaluation research undertaken by Winchester University reported on our achievements in using music to educate, connect, foster wellbeing and broaden awareness of the contributions made by British Caribbean communities. We received an EPIC Award granted in 2016 in recognition of our work with disadvantaged groups and we have been cited by the US Department of Arts and Culture as an exemplar organisation for community music-making.

Rebecca Scott - Bristol Reggae Orchestra Leader
Rebecca Scott heads up Orchestra operations. She has been a Clarinetist in Bristol Reggae Orchestra for 13 years. Rebecca also provides the vocals on her own composition, ‘A Better Man’ which will be performed at Glastonbury.

Ben Jenkins - Bristol Reggae Orchestra Musical Director
Ben is a musician and theatre director based in Bristol. He has worked as a pianist at the Royal Ballet School and on productions at the Tobacco Factory and the Bristol Old Vic. He is co-musical director for the Gasmen Collective and musical director of the Bristol Reggae Orchestra.

Windrush Choir
In summer 2022 Bristol Reggae Orchestra launched the Bristol Windrush Reggae Choir, led by Orgena Rose. Our multicultural, secular choir perform songs reflecting the entire Afro-Caribbean diaspora and our inaugural performance was held at Bristol Beacon. We raised the roof at the Malcolm X Centre in the winter and joined Sing Out Bristol as they celebrated their 15th anniversary at St George’s Hall as the first of this year’s exciting shows. In our first performances with the orchestra the audience got to their feet and sang with us from the first song to the last. We felt the power that music and the voice brings which helps to create connections and break down barriers and, based on people’s smiles and the feedback we received, bring healing to our diverse community. In an age of division, harmony is the gift our choir want to share, as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the HMT Empire Windrush arriving in Britain this year.

Orgena Rose - Windrush Choir Director
Orgena Rose is an award winning, dynamic, powerhouse vocalist, composer, music director, voice coach, TV host, playwright, best selling author, and the first online Entertainment Producer. She has over 25 years in the arts and entertainment and highlights of her career include: appearances on Broadway,  Carnegie Hall, international tours, movies, OPRAH, Today, Conan, PBS and the BBC. She has inspired and uplifted hundreds of thousands sharing her voice, speaking and conducting her rapid voice transformation workshops internationally helping others to find their voice and sing their soul song.

"Excellent, mental health boost too!"

"The rhythm section were amazing. I love a bit of Dub! The event was great fun."

"What a fantastic event - thank you! It was obvious how much the choir and orchestra - and audience were enjoying it. You should all be very proud. Pure joy!"

"Fantastic event! So enjoyable and know lots of people would love to attend. Definitely need to continue - powerful and entertaining."

"The audience really want to dance to your music - scrap the chairs!"

"Would love to hear more of the choir, and orchestra - maybe join in? More performances in the community, all over Bristol. Thank you to performers, organisers and funders. A project well worth doing."

"I had a fantastic time. You brought joy to me and my friends. Thank you. Please don’t stop."

Bristol Reggae Orchestra are delighted that the sold out first public performance of the Bristol Windrush Reggae Choir takes place this week at Bristol Beacon on Saturday 22 October 2022 at 7pm.  

The Black History Month gala performance marks the culmination of a 6-month project funded by the Windrush Day Grant Fund with the aim of learning from, enjoying and amplifying the voices of the Windrush generation and their descendants. The Bristol Windrush Reggae Choir has the legendary Orgena (Gena) Rose as its leader.

The gala also marks the world-premiere of two new pieces of music Home composed by talented local musicians Tomasz Kazmierski (keyboard player in the Orchestra) and Magda Hrynaszkiewicz and Windrush Child by Gena Rose, the Choir Director.

“I am thrilled with setting John Agard's powerful poem, Windrush Child to music. I really wanted to honour an existing work and this one speaks to the circumstances of Windrush in a powerful way. It tells the story of the Windrush journey from a unique point of view and pays tribute to  the generations that experienced it. Setting it to music is a perfect way to celebrate their legacy.” Orgena Rose, Choir Director

In the words of the singers in the choir:

“To have 40+ people from all walks of life at our first rehearsal was just a joy, music is a great way to educate and bring people together. The gala performance promises to be spectacular and we hope just the start of the journey for the choir!” Rebecca Scott, Singer and Bristol Reggae Orchestra Leader 

“Wow, what an honour to be part of this historic Windrush Choir project. It is a wonderful opportunity to recognise all those affectionately now known as the Windrush generation. My parents were part of the Windrush generation and so it has increased historical value and legacy for me personally. Reggae music allows a celebration which is soulfully inspiring and fitting for the celebration of Windrush, to sing the tunes and lyrics from Bob Marley carries deep meaning. So… is it love that I’m feeling…. well yes of course it is!” Carole Johnson, Singer and Vice Chair St Pauls Carnival CIC, Former Lord Mayor Bristol City Council and councillor for Ashley Ward

“I am so excited that St Agnes Church is involved in this wonderful project and to see the building full of people from the community singing and laughing together! St Agnes is very much at the heart of St Paul's and as such has always held a special place in the community for the Bristol Windrush generation and their descendants. It is my privilege to be part of this as we celebrate together their important contribution to our community and the cultural landscape of Bristol.”  Rev Melanie Otto, Singer and Priest in Charge of St Agnes and St Annes.

“Singing in the choir is like a therapy. It makes me feel happy and meet more vocalists. Even if you can’t sing, when you’re in a choir you can find your own space there. And I love reggae so much!” Barrington Chambers, Singer and Bristol Reggae Orchestra Vice-Chair

Bristol Reggae Orchestra are delighted to announce the date for the first public performance of the Bristol Windrush Reggae Choir. Free tickets are now available for the gala that will take place at Bristol Beacon on 22 October 2022 at 7pm https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/windrush-reggae-choir/

The gala performance will mark the culmination of a 6-month project that has been funded by the Windrush Day Grant Fund with the aim of learning from, enjoying and amplifying the voices of the Windrush generation and their descendants. The Bristol Windrush Reggae Choir has the legendary Orgena (Gena) Rose as its leader.

“I am incredibly honoured to be leading this historic choir project to acknowledge and pay tribute to the people of the Windrush generation. Music is a perfect way to celebrate their legacy. It is a universal language and reggae music, especially that of Bob Marley, is deep, soulful and revolutionary. It reminds us that we are One Love, One Heart and causes us to rise up, see who we truly are and the power we have to change our lives and change our world.” Orgena Rose, Choir Director

“To have 40+ people from all walks of life at our first rehearsal was just a joy, music is a great way to educate and bring people together. The gala performance promises to be spectacular and we hope just the start of the journey for the choir – encouraging everyone to book their tickets now so they don’t miss out!” Rebecca Scott, Bristol Reggae Orchestra Leader 

There is still time to join! Choir rehearsals take place 6.30-9pm at St Agnes Church in St Pauls tonight (24th August) and on Wednesday 14th and 28th September and 12th October with a final joint orchestra rehearsal to be announced.

Bristol Reggae Orchestra has been awarded funding through the Windrush Day Grant Fund to create a Reggae Choir. The project aims to contribute to community cohesion by drawing together people from British Caribbean communities and other diverse backgrounds to explore, learn and create through the medium of reggae. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-61922763 

This exciting new project includes funding to commission a new piece of music for orchestra and choir. The piece will be performed at a gala performance at the end of October.
The project funding has enabled us to establish an adult choir that will meet regularly up until the gala performance. We seek to commission an exciting piece of music for orchestra and choir that may also include a chorus or verse written so that local children can be involved in the performance.
The starting point for the piece is reggae music, which has historically helped to preserve a sense of home for many of the Windrush generation and their descendants, as well as supporting people through complex experiences including discrimination and providing points of positive connection with the host community. The piece must both celebrate the Windrush Generation and look to the future.
It will sound original and feel authentic for voices of all ages in the choir to sing. It will take advantage of our unique orchestral sound, with interesting layers, strong melody, simplicity and directness. It will acknowledge our Bristol roots, enabling the choir and orchestra to celebrate history and take forward its lessons in a positive way.
Fee: £3500
Interested? Or know someone who might be? Read the brief to find out more. Deadline for initial submissions 5pm 14 August.

Bristol Reggae Orchestra this week celebrated the 60th anniversary of Jamaican Independence with the first Windrush Reggae Choir vocal workshop.
The orchestra has been awarded funding through the Windrush Day Grant Fund to bring together a reggae choir. The 6-month project will learn from, enjoy and amplify the voices of the Windrush generation and their descendants, leading to a gala performance in the Autumn. The Bristol Windrush Reggae Choir is lucky to have the legendary Orgena (Gena) Rose as its leader.
“I am incredibly honoured to be leading this historic choir project to acknowledge and pay tribute to the people of the Windrush generation. Music is a perfect way to celebrate their legacy. It is a universal language and reggae music, especially that of Bob Marley, is deep, soulful and revolutionary. It reminds us that we are One Love, One Heart and causes us to rise up, see who we truly are and the power we have to change our lives and change our world.” Orgena Rose, Choir Director
Excitement was high as the first new choir members arrived at St Agnes Church, St Pauls on Wednesday. With Ben Jenkins (Musical Director, Bristol Reggae Orchestra) at the piano the first group of enthusiastic singers gathered.
“I am so excited that St Agnes Church is involved in this wonderful project and to see the building full of people from the community singing and laughing together! St Agnes is very much at the heart of St Paul's and as such has always held a special place in the community for the Bristol Windrush generation and their descendants. It is my privilege to be part of this as we celebrate together their important contribution to our community and the cultural landscape of Bristol.”  Rev Melanie Otto, Singer
Much laughter accompanied Gena’s warm up. Acknowledging the Marley family presence in the UK this week, a medley of Bob Marley classics were at the heart of a glorious bath of sound. A tea break later, with confidence levels rising, the choir were on their feet for another go.
“Wow what an honour to be part of this historic Windrush Choir project. It is a wonderful opportunity to recognise all those affectionately now known as the Windrush generation. My parents were part of the Windrush generation and so it has increased historical value and legacy for me personally. Reggae music allows a celebration which is soulfully inspiring and fitting for the celebration of Windrush, to sing the tunes and lyrics from Bob Marley carries deep meaning. So… is it love that I’m feeling…. well yes of course it is!” Carole Johnson, Vice Chair St Pauls Carnival CIC, Former Lord Mayor Bristol City Council and councillor for Ashley Ward
“I have fallen in love with music again, I found a new side to my musical career last night, I can sing! Gena opened a whole new side of my life to me last night, plus I made new friends! One of the best nights of my life, seriously! When’s the next one?” Joe Motsepe, Singer
All welcome at the next FREE vocal workshop! Wednesday 24 August, 630-9pm, St Agnes Church, St Pauls. Register for more details by emailing choir@bristolreggaeorchestra.com
Interested in composing a piece of music for the Windrush Reggae Choir? We’re looking to commission an exciting piece of music for orchestra and choir. It should celebrate the Windrush generation and look to the future.

Take a look at the news item and follow Bristol Reggae Orchestra’s social media to get involved!

The UK government has reduced the number of people being able to meet socially in a group to 6, from 14 September. However, there is still an open question as to whether music groups would be affected by this or not.

Currently, the list of exemptions from this rule includes sports (indoor and outdoor) and youth activities, but not other community activities, such as music groups.

We have been given to understand that the guidance will be updated by 14 September, so there is a small chance to influence it. 

If you feel strongly that music groups should be exempt from the rule of 6, as exercise classes are, then you should write to your MP without delay asking that community arts/community music groups, organised by businesses and charitable organisations, in controlled settings should be exempt from the restrictions on social gatherings, in the same way that sporting and youth activities are.

Here are some of the arguments you might wish to put forward:

• Research has now been undertaken which shows that musical activities are no more dangerous than loud speaking in close proximity; effective mitigations are therefore now possible, in terms of ventilation, face coverings, rigorous 2m social distancing etc.
• Musical group activity creates some of the same benefits as sporting activity does, e.g. on respiratory and immune systems, helping many people who cannot undertake other forms of exercise
• The mental health benefits of group music activity are now proven beyond doubt and are crucial at this time when the nation is reeling from 6 months of pandemic and the prospect of renewed restrictions in the winter, combined with difficult economic prospects; restricting groups again right now would deal a further blow to the mental health of millions across the UK who participate in such activity
• This is formal activity in strictly controlled settings, rigorously risk assessed by a committee of people or similar, or a business owner, responsible for the well-being of participants, undertaken only with risk mitigations in place and enforced

An important note!

It is entirely up to you if you get involved. We believe that it is important that groups are allowed the freedom to risk assess their own activity as it is so varied in terms of participants, settings etc. If you agree – even if your own group is not able or ready to meet in person! – then please do get involved: only voters can persuade their MP to take up an issue. We cannot do that on your behalf.

We are working with Brass Bands England, Association of British Choral Directors, Singing Network UK and others on this.

Please do share this email with anyone you think may find it of interest.

Best of luck,

Barbara Eifler, Chief Executive
Making Music

St Pauls Carnival CIC is pleased to announce it will be looking for a part-time curator for our upcoming Black History Month programme. This is a unique opportunity to create and deliver a bespoke digital programme, focussed on Black History and the community in the aftermath of the Colston Statue, and what it means for the wider city as a whole.

We are looking for an emerging and exciting talent to bring together the diverse experiences of the city, to engage with and empower both young and old and create a programme that builds on the success of the Spirit Up! United At Home Digital Carnival. 

This role is also funded by the United Communities & Solon Housing Community Fund. This fund has been vital for many of our partner agencies enabling them to better respond to our community during the initial stages of virus outbreak. This award helps SPC to continue our community outreach and work with artists.

Closing date is September 4th. Interviews w/c 7th September