Oscar’s on song with his Rotary Music Relay
story by: DAVE KING
A 17-year-old from Cornwall is setting the Rotary world alight with his music.
Former Rotaractor, Oscar Brown, first came to prominence this year when he performed at the Presidential Peace Conference in London in February, in front of Rotary International President, Gordon McInally.
“The conference was amazing, and I was honoured to perform Rotary’s Music Relay Song for Peace ‘A Thousand Voices’ which was composed by me,” explained Oscar, who adapted the lyrics especially to include Rotary’s vision for world peace.
“On that day everyone enjoyed the occasion and sang along with the chorus magnificently.”
The song is also part of a unique project, the Commonwealth Music Relay. Instead of a sports baton relay, a piece of music is being passed between young people around the world until it arrives in Samoa in October 2024. Its final performance will take place during the week of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings.
Oscar explained: “As the song is passed around, the lyrics and music can be changed and varied to reflect special themes, cultural characteristics, and musical skills of those taking part.
“Rotary’s Music Relay Song for Peace is one of the first variants of the original relay song ‘Symphony’, which was composed by five young people from India, Nigeria, Antigua, Malta and Australia.
“I am anticipating many other variants to follow, inspired by Rotary’s song and by the original.
“I anticipate that this will encourage young people’s creativity, personal expression and wellbeing as they become involved and start to create their own musical responses.”
The Commonwealth Music Relay began in 2022 when the Commonwealth Resounds, an organisation focused on connecting musical cultures, put together a project in association with the Queen's Pageantmaster to write a song to be sung as the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacons were lit.
Then, more than 800 choirs were involved throughout the UK and around the Commonwealth, demonstrating a fantastic spirit of energy and involvement as the original song, which was composed by a Nigerian composer with Australian lyrics, was performed in many different places, by choirs, soloists, orchestras, bands and other ensembles.
There were versions of the song in Swahili and other African languages, a Maori version, a steelpan version, a signing choir and even a version played on the hurdy-gurdy!
The Commonwealth Foundation and Secretariat were delighted by this Commonwealth musical involvement and through the Purcell School in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Alison Cox, Head of Composition and Online Composition Academy Director, explained: “We were asked to recapture the energy of this occasion in a special project run by the Commonwealth's Year of Youth.
“The teenager says his influences are Tom Odell, Snow Patrol, Billy Joel and Elton John.”
“We decided to create a 'Commonwealth Music Relay' where young people from all over the world are being invited to create their own version of the song, change it in any way they like, record or film their performances and send them to us.
“Rotary and Rotary International are now involved in the Music Relay, and we are delighted.”
All of the recordings and videos of the song’s variants will be presented on an interactive world map which will be displayed during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa this autumn.
Oscar is from St Ives in Cornwall, and has been playing piano since he was six-years-old, singing since he was 10, and wrote his first song aged 12.
He has been releasing his songs on music streaming platforms such as AppleMusic, Spotify and SoundCloud for over a year. He has played at a number of gigs and festivals including the Mandala Stage at Glastonbury and Boardmasters, a festival in Newquay, Cornwall.
The teenager says his influences are Tom Odell, Snow Patrol, Billy Joel and Elton John. “I really aspire to be like these people when I am older,” he said. “All of these opportunities and experiences helped me write this song for the Rotary Peace Conference in February which I was so happy to be a part of.”
Oscar is keen for all musical Rotarians across the UK and throughout the Commonwealth, to inspire their choirs, orchestras, schools as other musicians to use Rotary’s song as a starting point for their own creative performance.
He added: “I am happy to come and perform the song for fellow Rotarians and a public audience.
“Now I need the help of all Rotarians and Rotaract clubs in the UK and overseas to spread the song and its message of peace to young people living in all regions of the Commonwealth.
“I am hoping we can share Rotary’s song amongst the schools and young musicians in our countries and communities.”
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