With the latest Star Wars film proving a huge hit on the big screen – there is a treat in store soon at Mansfield Library with a space-themed family concert!

Out of this World is a family concert taking place at Mansfield Central Library on Saturday, March 5 at 2pm.

It will feature an ensemble of 12 musicians from regional professional Orchestra Sinfonia Viva for a concert of intergalactic favourites. Presented by Alasdair Malloy, this family concert offers an exciting introduction to live music and the Orchestra.

Sinfonia Viva will perform well known music from Star Wars, E.T., and Doctor Who as well as popular music from the likes of Mozart and Handel.

Suitable for children aged from five to 11 years old, visitors are also encouraged to dress up as their favourite space character! After the performance, there will be the opportunity meet the musicians and try out some instruments for yourself. Plus, free refreshments and space-themed craft activities for all ticket holders.

The concert is organised by Nottinghamshire County Council with the Nottinghamshire Music Hub, in partnership with Sinfonia Viva with funding from Arts Council England.

Councillor John Knight, Committee Chairman for Culture at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We host thousands of exciting events in our libraries every year offering something for everyone and this space themed family concert is sure to capture the imagination of fans of Star Wars and all things intergalactic!

“It is another example of the innovative work taking place in our libraries to work with a wide range of partners to deliver educational and entertaining events for our communities to enjoy.”

Sinfonia Viva Education Manager Marianne Barraclough continued: “Sinfonia Viva has a national reputation for the education and community outreach work that we do – introducing young people from pre-school upwards to live classical music in a fun, entertaining and interactive way.

“Out Of This World is a wonderful opportunity for children and their families to enjoy some well-known and perhaps new music and then to meet the players afterwards and hopefully to be inspired to learn a musical instrument themselves.

“We have worked with Alasdair Malloy on many occasions both in Nottinghamshire and even in Bahrain where we were last year invited to be part of a prestigious music festival.

“Alasdair and our players have a wonderful way of engaging a young audience so that they feel part of the performance and can enjoy the music in a relaxed family-friendly environment.”

Alasdair Malloy has had a richly varied and diverse musical life. Trained as a percussionist at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, he has now been Principal Percussion with the BBC Concert Orchestra for over twenty years and during this time has been regularly in demand as a guest player for sessions and concerts and for film and television recordings. His BBC Proms solo debut was in 1998 and he has made a number of subsequent appearances at this and other notable music festivals.

The combination of his outgoing personality, his enthusiasm for all sorts of music and his soft Scottish accent has resulted in Alasdair becoming a very popular presenter of concerts and on television and radio.

From his solo percussion show for children, Rustle Up a Rhythm, and the Beanbag Proms, devised with Sinfonia Viva for babies and toddlers using an orchestra of 12 players, to concerts with full symphony orchestra, Alasdair has introduced hundreds of thousands of people to music in his very individual way, and is renowned for his highly original programmes which he devises and presents with orchestras all over the world.

As well as his work with family concerts, Alasdair is one of only a handful of Glass Harmonica specialists which has taken him to festivals and concerts around the world as well as recordings with diverse artists including Icelandic pop star Björk. He has also composed and played for a number of film soundtracks – including the haunting melodies for the box office hit ‘Gravity’.

Tickets cost £3 for a single or £9 for a family ticket (family of four, maximum two adults). You can book tickets: by visiting: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/outofthisworld by phone: 01623 651337, or in person at Mansfield Central Library.