GRAND UNION ORCHESTRA
There is no musical organisation on the planet quite like the Grand Union Orchestra.
For nearly 40 years, we have brought together musicians and singers born or brought up in all major musical traditions worldwide to create spectacular live shows, combining music and theatre to reflect vividly the society we live in today.
“Pan-stylistic, pan-rhythmic, pan-cultural, pan-everything, Grand Union Orchestra represents a unique and radical vision of multicultural Britain.”
40 years ago, composer Tony Haynes’s vision of creating a music and theatre company that brought together performers from all the diverse cultures flourishing in Britain today gave birth to a remarkable new ensemble – the Grand Union Orchestra.
Over the years, it has continued to grow – creating large-scale performances, touring worldwide and working abroad, responding to BBC commissions, expanding its activities into participatory shows, education and community projects, recruiting young artists to work alongside (and begin to replace) the original pioneers.
Today the Grand Union’s work and influence is as strong as ever, as it continues to break new ground. Genuinely unique, there is no other arts organisation quite like it.
Grand Union Orchestra is the acknowledged pioneer and leading exponent of cross-cultural music-making in the UK.
Once memorably commended for 'making cultural diversity an art-form', Grand Union continues to blaze a trail unrivalled by any other organisation, characterised by its story-telling and the authentic lived experience of its artists.
Our music encompasses Indian ragas, Latin American salsa, Chinese melody, Bengali songs, reggae basslines, West African drumming, Bhangra and Samba rhythms, Eastern European styles, Jazz harmony and big band Blues, always dramatic and filled with human stories.
Many Grand Union musicians and singers are first-generation migrants.
As well as inspiring Tony Haynes's gloriously original music for the Orchestra, they have unique skills and experience to pass on to the second and future generations. This has always been an important part of our artistic practice, and is a central feature of all our work.
In Britain today it is more important than ever to bring people of all ages and cultures together to create work that reflects and responds to our country's ever-widening demographic, creating unity and healing division.
“Over the past four decades, Grand Union Orchestra has shown how the passion of protest can be harnessed to music-making of the highest quality”
Read Andrew Stewart’s profile of Grand Union Orchestra in The Musician, Autumn 2017
Grand Union Orchestra features:
Singers from many different cultures worldwide with individual vocal styles
Virtuoso instrumentalists from all major global musical traditions
Charismatic jazz soloists and powerful big-band brass
International rhythm section and glorious array of percussion and drums
Our work includes:
The rich sound of the 18-strong Grand Union Orchestra
Large-scale performances featuring adult and student participation
Fun, practical, and creative workshops for young musicians
The spontaneity of our street bands
Family-friendly concerts and hands-on activities
As an independent artist-led organisation, organised on a collective rather than hierarchical model, we have been able to continue our work across the decades thanks to the valued support of key funders, commissioners and grant-giving organisations.
We are currently funded by the following trusts, foundations and arts funding organisations:
