Multi-Story Orchestra - Community

Founded more than a decade ago, The Multi-Story Orchestra is the empowering force behind a raft of highly successful performances and projects working alongside young people to write and perform new music exploring contemporary issues and telling stories.

The BBT Communities grant is for the commissioning of a new work about social media, Verified, for orchestra, violin, percussion, soprano and young voices. Verified is about the search for authenticity and acceptance amidst the growing pressures of social media and living in a digital age.

It is created by Multi-Story’s Young Creatives and musicians and their co-founder Kate Whitley, herself a recipient of a BBT Special Award in 2014 and premiered at Bold Tendencies in Peckham, South East London as part of BBT’s 20th anniversary celebrations in June 2023.

Opening BBT’s 20th anniversary celebrations, newly announced BBT Communities, the Multi-Story Orchestra premièred ‘Verified,’ a BBT commission from Kate Whitley and Multi-Story Young Creatives about the appeal and dangers of social media. Filmed live at Bold Tendencies in Peckham, South London the vibrant performance was given by local school choirs; three BBT soloists, violinist Hyeyoon Park, percussionist Simone Rubino and soprano Ruby Hughes, also joined by fellow soprano Francesca Chiejina; and with the Multi-Story Orchestra conducted by Adam Gibbs.

IMPACT

Read Susan Rivers’ BBT Communities Blog, November 2023 here

Read Nick Breckenfield’s Blog about the first night of BBT20 with Multi-Story Orchestra here

It was a really cool experience allowing for many people to perform who wouldn’t have had that chance.

A Young Creative

This project has assisted us in developing a method of creating and performing music that includes world-class professionals alongside local young people. This was a high profile event increasing our sector impact. … It has expanded audiences from more diverse backgrounds, making classical music an art form that can be appreciated by, and have relevance to, absolutely everybody. The project has also helped pioneer a bold new way of working, which we hope will inspire our sector and promote positive change… The project that BBT funded will continue into the future, through a programme of work which continues to centre young people as equal creatives in the development of new orchestra work. The piece we created will be developed further and performed at Southbank Centre in 2024.