Tag: music

World’s only Piano Orchestra announces Edinburgh concert tour

Performances at Greyfriars Kirk (17 Feb 2026) and New Church (18 Feb 2026)

The world’s first and only Piano Orchestra — an extraordinary ensemble made entirely of pianos performing full orchestral scores — is set to bring its groundbreaking sound to Edinburgh this February.

Led by directors Nichola McCloy and Hannah Merrett, the Senior Piano Orchestra (ages 11–17) will perform two special concerts as part of their 2026 tour:

• Greyfriars Kirk — Tuesday 17 February 2026
• Edinburgh New Town Church, Edinburgh — Wednesday 18 February 2026

Formed in 2023, the Piano Orchestra has quickly gained attention for its innovative approach to ensemble playing, showcasing the versatility and power of the piano in a way audiences have never experienced before.

Each performance features multiple pianos working together to recreate the full colour, texture, and dynamism of a traditional orchestra — from sweeping string passages to bold brass fanfares — all produced through the artistry of young pianists.

The ensemble has already enjoyed significant success, including a 2024 tour to Paris with a major performance at the iconic Église de la Madeleine, as well as appearances at venues across South Wales. Their Edinburgh tour marks the next exciting step in their musical journey.

Audiences can expect a rich and varied programme spanning classical favourites, cinematic scores, and contemporary pieces — all brought to life through the unique sound world of the Piano Orchestra.

Tickets and further information will be available through venue box offices and the Piano Orchestra’s official channels.

PIANO ORCHSTRA SOUTH WALES

Piano Orchestra Biography

Formed in 2023 under the direction of Nichola McCloy and Hannah Merrett, the Piano Orchestra is the only ensemble of its kind in the world: an orchestra made entirely of pianos, performing full orchestral scores with breathtaking richness and power.

The orchestra is home to two ensembles — a Senior Orchestra (ages 11–17) and a Junior Orchestra (ages 8–11) — who rehearse weekly and perform a wide range of repertoire including classical masterpieces, film scores, and popular music.

In 2024, the Piano Orchestra toured Paris, performing at the iconic Église de la Madeleine, and has since appeared at numerous venues across South Wales. They are now delighted to bring their unique sound and energy to Edinburgh as part of their latest performance tour.

FACEBOOK

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Music icons take centre stage on the big screen at Vue Edinburgh

From legendary rock bands to modern global sensations, music fans are invited to experience an electrifying line-up of artists on the big screen at Vue Edinburgh Omni Centre this February. 

Kicking things off today (5 February) is the latest screening from the Silents Synced series, which pairs classic silent movies with epic rock music to bring audiences a unique big screen experience. 

In R.E.M. x Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr., albums like Monster and New Adventures in Hi-Fi merge with iconic physical comedy, transporting viewers into Keaton’s dreamlike journey as a cinema projectionist-turned-detective who is framed for stealing his girlfriend’s father’s pocket watch. 

Also arriving in February is the explosive live show, Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience. Arriving Friday 6 February, this epic concert film captures sold-out performances and behind-the-scenes moments from global K-Pop phenomenon Stray Kids, including intimate interviews with the group.  

From 21 February, Australian genre-bending trio Chase Atlantic brings their Lost in Heaven era to the big screen with Chase Atlantic: Lost in Heaven.

The immersive concert film captures the band’s electrifying final night at London’s iconic O2 Arena. With breathtaking set moments and sweeping crowd-pulsing anthems, fans can relive the intensity and atmosphere of one of Chase Atlantic’s biggest shows yet on the big screen.  

Rounding out the programme is acclaimed 2022 Elvis biopic, Baz Lurhman’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is heading to screens from 27 February. 

Blending electrifying restored concert footage from Elvis’s legendary 1970s Las Vegas residency with rare, never-before-seen clips and rediscovered audio of Presley recounting his own story, the immersive concert documentary gives fans the unique chance to relive the King of Rock’s charisma and musical mastery. 

General Manager at Vue Edinburgh Omni Centre, Robert Smith said: “Music has an incredible power to bring people together, and these screenings give fans the chance to experience their favourite artists in a completely immersive way.

“Whether it’s the scale of a live performance, the intimacy of an artist’s story, or the shared atmosphere of watching with fellow fans, the big screen elevates music into something truly special. We’re excited to be showcasing such a diverse and iconic line-up at Vue.” 

To find out more or book tickets, visit www.myvue.com/tinc  

Full listings

  • R.E.M. x Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr – From 5 February 
  • Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience – From 6 February 
  • Chase Atlantic: Lost in Heaven – From 21 February 
  • EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert – From 27 February 

Midwintering at Stockbridge Library

We have got an exciting event for adults at Stockbridge Library!

MIDWINTERING

An hour of Music, Poetry & Storytelling

A midwinter gathering for rest and reflection

Free Entry, and free teas and coffees

INFO

Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place

Sat 31st Jan, 3pm – 4pm

Featuring poet SEAN WAI KEUNG

https://seanwaikeung.carrd.co

https://www.instagram.com/seanwaikeung

Storyteller/pianist WILL PICKVANCE

https://www.instagram.com/willpickvance

https://www.willpickvance.com

and hosted by singer-songwriter/poet LIAM BAKER

https://liambaker.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/liambaker.insta

Scottish Ensemble spotlights future string stars with Musical Encounters

Scottish Ensemble begins an exciting 2026 with the return of our Young Artist programme, helping to develop the next generation of Scotland’s young string players.

Delivered in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, each year a group of RCS string students are selected to take part in a week-long side-by-side project with Scottish Ensemble musicians.

The week sees mentorship meet music-making in its most dynamic form, with the group working on a broad range of string repertoire, extended playing techniques, programme curation and how to communicate with audiences.

This year the development week will culminate in Musical Encounters, an electrifying collaborative performance that sees the young RCS players bring fresh energy to the stage alongside Scottish Ensemble, for afternoon concerts in Glasgow (RCS, 16 January) and Edinburgh’s Queens Hall (17 January). 

Following the project two young musicians will be selected to be Scottish Ensemble’s Young Artists for 2026. They will benefit from a year-long programme of paid opportunities and development experiences designed to broaden their skills as professional musicians.

This will include joining the Ensemble for tours and performances as well as Music for Wellbeing workshops in schools and at Scotland’s Maggie’s Centres, alongside office days with the management team to gain insights into programming, fundraising, and marketing.

James Hardie, Chief Executive at Scottish Ensemble, said: “At Scottish Ensemble, we are always looking to the future of our artform, and nurturing the next generation of musicians is central to that mission.

“Our annual Young Artists week at the RCS is a highlight of the year, giving us the chance to work with a new cohort of passionate, energetic young string players.”

Listings Information

Friday 16 January, 1pm

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow

Tickets £5 – £13

Booking: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/whats-on/fridays-at-one-scottish-ensemble-side-by-side-with-rcs-strings/book/598806/

Saturday 17 January, 3pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £13, Free for Under-16s

Booking: https://www.thequeenshall.net/book/266801

Musical Encounters programme

Jessie Montgomery Starburst

Henryk Górecki  Three Pieces in Old Style

Witold Lutosławski  Five Folk Melodies (No.2 and No.3)

Elizabeth Maconchy  Music for Strings (Mvmt II: Scherzo)

Tōru Takemitsu  Music of Training and Rest, from José Torres

Caroline Shaw Plan & Elevation (Mvmt V: The Beech Tree)

Hans Abrahamson 10 Preludes (No.2)

Thomas Ades Arcadiana (O Albion)

Philip Glass 1957. Award Montage from String Quartet no3 ‘Mishima’

Olli Mustonen Nonet II 

Burns Night Community Ceilidh at Royston Wardieburn

SATURDAY 24 JANUARY from 5 – 8.30pm

Excited to announce our 11th annual Burns Night Community Ceilidh! Always a highlight of the Winter!

Tickets now on sale from Royston Wardieburn Community Centre reception (weekdays, cash only), and Granton Garden Bakery (Saturdays 10-1, cash or card). All tickets £4. Under 10s free.

If you’d like to volunteer to help at the event, or to offer a short performance (a turn) please contact tom@grantoncommunitygardeners.org

All volunteers and performers get a free ticket.

With Ama-zing Harmonies, musicians from Tinderbox Collective, and the Granton Primary School poets. Pilton Community Health Project, Granton Youth.

Pupils perform at Haymarket station as grand finale to Royal Scottish National Orchestra residency

The performance was the culmination of a three-month residency with RSNO’s world-class musicians who worked alongside the school’s Instrumental Music Service to inspire young brass musicians.

Twenty pupils from the Council’s Instrumental Music Service (IMS) Senior Brass Ensemble, made up of young people from across Edinburgh secondary schools, put on a festive performance with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) Brass Quintet at Haymarket train station, on Friday 12 December.

The performance was the culmination of a three-month residency which involved RSNO’s world-class musicians working alongside the school’s IMS teaching team to coach, encourage and develop skills in young brass instrumentalists from secondary schools across the city.

Over the course of the residency, the young people worked alongside members of the RSNO to rehearse for two performances – the first was at the Usher Hall on 3 December 2025 where the brass ensemble performed Tielman Susato’s Renaissance Dances. The second at Haymarket station, brought the residency to a close, while entertaining the general public with a selection of Christmas carols and festive tunes.

Musicians in the IMS Senior Brass Ensemble, and those who took part in the residency, included pupils from Drummond High School, Tynecastle High School, Trinity Academy, Boroughmuir High School, Balerno High School, James Gillespie’s High School, Leith Academy, Queensferry High School, St Augustine’s RC High School, Broughton High School, Firrhill High School and Craigmount High School.

Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convenor said: We are committed to not only making music tuition accessible to a large number of learners in our schools, but also in nurturing and developing musical talent.

“Our residency with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is a great example of how we are doing this, bringing together world class musicians to join our instrumental music service team to inspire our talented young brass players.

“It is thanks to our team of dedicated instrumental teachers that children and young people have opportunities like this to perform and showcase their talents in such public forums.  

“I am sure that that the skills they have learned and the experiences they have had will stay with them for years to come, paving the way for future success. A sincere well done and thank you to all involved, including our Instrumental Music Service Team, teachers, families, the RSNO – and of course to our talented young musicians.”

Andrew Stevenson, RSNO Director of Engagement, said: “I am so pleased that we’re able to work so closely with the Council’s Instrumental Music Service. The IMS provide such invaluable teaching and support to young people across Scotland and it’s a real privilege to help bolster them in any way we can.

“Rounding out our residency with this free, public performance is a fantastic way to show off how brilliant these young people are and how important music education is, something we feel very passionately about at the RSNO.

“I’d also like to extend a big thanks to ScotRail, our principal travel partner, for their continued support.”

Carter, an S1 pupil at Balerno High School who took part in the Royal Scottish National Orchestra residency, said: “I found the RSNO Brass side by side project inspirational and AMAZING, thank you for letting me be part of this wonderful experience.

Playlist for Life at Christmas

✨ Could you give the gift of music this Christmas?

The festive season is an exciting and busy time, but it can also be a challenging time for some people living with dementia and the people who love and care for them. Music can help. It can ease distress, spark conversation and create moments of joy and a unique shared experience for everyone listening.

There are many ways to help people enjoy music together. Why not:

🎧 Create a playlist for youself or someone you know

💚 Donate to our work. Just £10 supports five people with a free resource pack

🛍️ Buy from our shop. We have the perfect gifts for any music lover and all proceeds help people living with dementia

Find out more: https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/support-playlist-this…/

Edinburgh International Book Festival and Celtic Connections unveil major new partnership

Two of Scotland’s most dynamic festivals are joining forces to create ambitious new work at the intersection of literature and music.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival and Celtic Connections have announced a multi‑year partnership spanning 2025–2027, featuring a series of original commissions designed to celebrate Scottish creativity, reach new audiences, create new opportunities for Scottish artists, and reimagine what is possible when art forms meet in unexpected ways.

Headline Commission: Scotland and India   

A major highlight of this partnership will be the world premiere of The Golden Road at Celtic Connections 2026, a unique collaboration inspired by William Dalrymple’s award-winning book.

Following its debut in Glasgow, The Golden Road will evolve and return in an expanded form for a landmark performance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August 2026.

This journey from Celtic Connections to the Book Festival will see the project grow and develop, offering audiences a fresh and ambitious reimagining of the work at each stage.

Dalrymple will appear at the Citizens Theatre on 31 January alongside India Alba, a collective of Indian and Scottish musicians whose fusion of Indian classical and Scottish traditional backgrounds has created a unique exploration of world culture. Their debut album Reels and Ragas (2009) and follow‑up High Beyond (recorded in the Himalayas) revealed striking resonances between raga gats and Highland melodies, with the drone sounds of bagpipes and tampura forming a shared musical language.

For Celtic Connections 2026, India Alba will be joined by renowned cellist Su‑a Lee, guitarists Ali Hutton and Graeme Stephen, and further guests to be announced.

  • Sharat Chandra Srivastava (violin) brings over 35 years of performance experience, rooted in the Senia Gharana tradition and enriched by collaborations with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia.
  • Gyan Singh (tabla) is an accomplished Hindustani classical musician, trained under Ustad Abdullah Khan, Ustad Faiyaz Khan and Pt. Suresh Talwarkar.
  • Ross Ainslie, described by The Scotsman as “Scotland’s most sought‑after piper,” is a prolific composer and collaborator, performing with Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica and India Alba.

The Golden Road 7.30PM, Sat 31 Jan Citizens Theatre Tickets: https://www.celticconnections.com/event/1/india-alba-special-guests-with-william-dalrymple-the-golden-road/ 

Rhymes and Reels 

Alongside the headline commission, audiences can enjoy Rhymes and Reels on 27 January at the Mackintosh Church in Glasgow. This special performance will revive two EIBF‑commissioned works and premiere a new Celtic Connections collaboration.

Harpist Esther Swift presents her musical settings of Jackie Kay’s poetry, with Kay herself reading from The Heartstrings of Poetry, commissioned by EIBF and first premiered at the 2025 festival.

Another EIBF commission, award‑winning poet and novelist Angus Peter Campbell appears with his daughter Brìghde Chaimbeul, blending readings in English and Gaelic with accompaniment from small pipes.

Former National Poet of Scotland Liz Lochhead collaborates with renowned Highland fiddler Duncan Chisholm in a brand‑new Celtic Connections commission.

Rhymes and Reels 7.30PM, Tue 27 Jan Mackintosh Church Tickets: https://www.celticconnections.com/event/2/rhymes-reels/ 

Jenny Niven, Director, Edinburgh International Book Festival: “We’re delighted to embark on this multi‑year partnership with Celtic Connections, uniting two of Scotland’s most dynamic festivals in a celebration of creativity and collaboration.

“This new era for the Book Festival is about opening doors—bringing together writers, musicians, and audiences in ways that spark new ideas and reach further into our communities.

“Our recent Thistle Award win is a testament to the power of innovation and partnership, and we look forward to building on that momentum as we explore the rich intersections of Scottish literature and music together.”

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer, Celtic Connections:  “Celtic Connections has always been about forging new paths and bringing artists together across genres and traditions.

“We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, allowing us to celebrate the stories, sounds, and voices that make Scotland’s cultural scene so vibrant.

“By working together, we’re creating space for ambitious new work and for audiences to experience the magic that happens when music and words meet on equal terms.”

ENLIGHTENMENT: Immersive Experience to Transform Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall

Swiss art collective PROJEKTIL brings its vivid light and sound show to Edinburgh from 31 January, following acclaimed runs in Glasgow, Liverpool and Leeds

Enlightenment by EONARIUM is coming to Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall  on 31 January, following acclaimed runs in Glasgow, Liverpool and Leeds.

In a dynamic immersive journey, visitors will be enveloped in stunning visuals and captivating soundscapes inspired by Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. The waitlist is now live on Fever, the leading tech platform for discovering live entertainment, for those eager to experience this one-of-a-kind event.

Presented by the Zurich-based artist collective PROJEKTIL, in collaboration with Fever, Enlightenment promises to be visually and spiritually uplifting.

The show will transform the iconic McEwan Hall at the University of Edinburgh into a sensory journey with vibrant light projections and the iconic melodies of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.

PROJEKTIL has revitalised Vivaldi’s original compositions by rearranging and recording them specifically to enhance the immersive experience, blending classical elements with a contemporary touch. 

Designed by Sir Rowand Anderson in the late 1800s and adorned with 15 hand-painted mural panels, McEwan Hall stands as a stunning Victorian landmark and the perfect backdrop for audiences to be enveloped by the spellbinding visuals and sounds of Enlightenment.

The 30-minute installation is divided into scenes, each designed to be enjoyed while seated on comfortable chairs or bean bags, allowing guests to gaze up at the projections that adorn the ceiling and walls. They can expect to take in spring, summer, autumn and winter like never before.

The journey also consists of two final stops into the magic of the universe, taking viewers directly to “Samsara”, a concept borrowed from Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cultures that describes the endless cycle of rebirth and suffering, and “Nirvana”, the attainment of ultimate enlightenment and liberation from samsara.

It’s a fascinating experience that can be enjoyed by children and adults, friends and families alike.

Using video mapping technology, the show creates a precise and immersive environment, melding imagery with the sounds of classical music to fully engage and mesmerise the audience.

Sign up to the waitlist now on Fever’s platform for an exclusive presale access before general sale on 18 December.

Practical information

Carols at St Mary’s this Saturday

SATURDAY 13th DECEMBER at 2pm

ST MARY’s CATHEDRAL, PALMERSTON PLACE

This Saturday (13th December) at 2pm, come and sing Community Carols with us!

No booking required, just come along for a good sing of carols round the piano.

All welcome, with refreshments afterwards.

http://www.cathedral.net/event…/community-carols-2025