Glastonbury Abbey's Orchestra in a Field launches Rap Slam contest

11th May 2012

Michael Eavis is not organising a Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza this year, but the Abbey is being used for another event, Orchestra in a Field, which runs on the weekend of 30 June – 1 July. Although this event has no official connection to Glastonbury Festival, we wanted to let you know about it, as it sounds like a cracking day out on the Festival’s doorstep.

Orchestra in a Field is being organised by internationally renowned conductor, Charles Hazlewood, who says: "At Orchestra in a Field I want to prove that you can have exactly the same kind of visceral experience at an orchestral concert that you might at a rock festival.  Music is the most universal language we humans have, and there are few things to beat a world-class symphony orchestra playing like their lives depended on it.”

The event will also feature a Rap Slam competition, in which UK youth will be encouraged to choose a famous classical piece and then create a rap to go over it. Three finalists will be shortlisted who will then perform in an X Factor-like competition in the Talk Tent at the Orchestra in a Field festival on 1 July. The judge’s panel (so far!) will be Professor Green,  Benny Banks and top rap talent agent Billy Wood from the William Morris Endeavour talent agency.

The grand prize winner will perform his/her winning entry live onstage at Orchestra in a Field with an introduction by Charles Hazlewood and Professor Green (rumour has it that Professor Green might also perform with Charles Hazlewood and his full orchestra!!).

The winner will also perform the winning entry live onstage at Glastonbury Festival 2013 and will win a day in the recording studio of the Super Furry Animals in Cardiff, Wales with production supervision by SFA band member Cian Ciaran.

The Rap Slam competition launches today via Twitter (@rap_slam) and the OIF site www.orchestrainafield.com.