OUR HISTORY
Grand Union was founded in 1982 by Tony Haynes, David Bradford, John Cumming and Julie Eaglen, with the aim to tour theatrical works with music at their core.
Our third touring show, Strange Migration, was crucial in shaping all our subsequent work, introducing non-European performers and embracing less familiar musical cultures.
In 1984, Tony Haynes composed The Song Of Many Tongues in response to a commission from the Greater London Council. The show toured England for two years and became our debut album in 1986.
In the words of co-founder Tony Haynes:
Since it began in 1982, Grand Union Orchestra has been making music that reflects and absorbs diversity. It has been my honour to compose nearly 40 major shows across four decades for the company, working with some of the UK’s leading migrant musicians of each generation, whose talents and cultural generosity have been my source of constant inspiration.
Our mission has been to represent the ever changing demographic and cultural musical influences that thrive in Britain today, addressing the myriad social and political issues associated with cultural diversity and integration. Grand Union’s inspiration has always been the authentic migratory stories of our extraordinary musicians from across the globe.
Young people and their blossoming musical talents and professional ambitions are an integral part of our work. Supporting them through mentoring, performance opportunities and building skills alongside our core musicians has been at the heart of Grand Union Orchestra and we are proud to have been the springboard for many generations of the UK’s leading musical talents.
Since the 1980s, our music has been performed live, nationally and internationally, and broadcast on all major radio stations. We have released a series of albums through our own label, RedGold Records.
Our large-scale shows are developed by a core group of musicians in conjunction with amateur performers from local cultural and community groups. These have included:
Threads (Manchester 1986)
If Music Could (Warwickshire 1990, London 1992, Slough 1997)
Shadows Of The Sun (Clerkenwell Festival, London 1992)
Nau Charia De (Spitalfields, London 1994/95)
Dancing In The Flames (London 1995/96, Melbourne 2005)
Where The Rivers Meet (Sadler’s Wells, London 2000)
Beyond The Silk Road (UK 1999)
Doctor Carnival (UK 2001-2005)
On Liberation Street (Leeds, Gateshead, London 2005-2009)
Song Of Contagion (Wilton’s Music Hall, London 2017)
Since 2011 we have created a number of shows for London’s Hackney Empire, including:
11.11.11 (2011)
The Golden Highway (2012)
Liberation & Remembrance (2012)
Music Untamed (2013)
Undream'd Shores (2014)
