Underscore reinventing stuffy image of orchestras as targets “arts deprived areas”
A ground-breaking community orchestra is giving the genre an overhaul to attract more under-represented musicians of colour from areas starved of money for the arts. Bollywood tunes are replacing Beethoven and Motown is the soundtrack instead of Mozart at refreshing Underscore performances.
Underscore is the first orchestra of its kind in the West Midlands that stands out from the crowd on every level. From the performance venues to its music and the change it is trying to make in society at a time of drastic cuts to the arts.
It was set up to help musicians from ethnic minorities who were struggling to see themselves in a traditional orchestra setting. They were lured in to Underscore with not just the chance to play music from their own cultures but other worldwide ones along with performing in exciting, unusual settings in and around Birmingham.
Funded by The Arts Council, Underscore is run by West Bromwich-based The People’s Orchestra (TPO) and its sister organisation The Change Consortium CIC. It is helping to get a more diverse range of people interested in performing music and a platform to nurture their talents, especially those daunted by joining traditional orchestras or from areas that have “arts deprivation”.
Amos Miller from Underscore said: “Underscore is an exciting and hugely needed project, bringing a high level or accessible performance to areas of arts deprivation.
“Due to funding priorities these areas have become more and more numerous over the last few years, with orchestral music – both from a listening and performing perspective – in severe danger of becoming the preserve only of those with significant financial resources.”
Musicians, who range from local music teachers to students and everyday professionals, were encouraged to get involved with Underscore if their favourite music wasn’t being played by their local orchestra or felt a disconnect from classical music.
The set list for Underscore is more relevant to modern lives and includes everything from hip-hop to African cinema tunes, dance hits and music from South East Asia and Bollywood. The orchestra’s performance of The Redemption Song has even moved a member of the audience to tears.
Amy Marshall, Orchestra, Stage and Office Manager at the TPO, said: “What’s special about Underscore is that it’s an orchestra playing music from many cultures along with compositions from under-represented artists.
“That could be music from Black Panther or a Bollywood film to Bob Marley. Everything about it is different.”
Jamie Parker, The People’s Orchestra member, added: “I think there’s a lot of untapped potential out there from various backgrounds and Underscore gives them the chance to make something of themselves within their love for music.”
If you are a musician of colour interested in joining Underscore community orchestra, see more details here. Underscore is always looking for new members to come along.
