Tony Haynes 1941-2024
With deep sorrow we announce the death of Tony Haynes, Grand Union’s Composer and Creative Director for over 40 years. We feel honoured to have worked with him, and to have shared in his imagination and vision.
We are truly grateful for the huge legacy of intercultural music and songs he dedicated his working life to, and will never forget our inspirational founder and treasured friend.
The Grand Union ‘family’ looks forward to keeping Tony’s creative flame burning as we go into the future with him watching from the wings.
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.
“An extraordinary collective of musicians from around the world, playing wondrous music by composer Tony Haynes”
“Grand Union Orchestra is a powerfully diverse band with an optimistic message. These musicians have honed their skills and collaborated as a family for 40 years and their chemistry is one to immerse yourself in.”
New Film Out Now
The central event of the Grand Union Orchestra's 40th Anniversary celebrations was a spectacular show at the Hackney Empire Theatre in London. Performed by 30 musicians and singers (some of them members since the beginning!), it was a kind of retrospective drawing on the astonishing range of original music Tony Haynes has written for the Orchestra over the years.
We have now produced a film to give those who may not have had the opportunity to experience the Grand Union Orchestra in live performance a real sense of its energy and spontaneity, deeply moving songs and spirited choruses.
OUT NOW!
Download via https://vimeo.com/ondemand/guo40
Large-scale shows
BBC commissions
Open air festivals
Participatory shows
Education projects
Outdoor performances
Shows abroad
Community projects
Small group performances
FOLLOW
Read Tony Haynes’s blog, where he tells the inside story of his music for Grand Union Orchestra.