Scottish Ensemble bring moments of stillness and a captivating musical adventure as they perform their annual Concerts by Candlelight series across Scotland
From the 5th to the 12th December the pioneering string ensemble will visit some of the country’s most atmospheric settings. Concerts by Candlelight will take place in Perth, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and for the first time in Dunblane.
A staple of the Scottish festive calendar these concerts feature vibrant compositions illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight.
Jonathan Morton, Artistic Director of Scottish Ensemble, said: “Concerts by Candlelight have become a very popular moment in our musical calendar, both for audiences and musicians, and it’s heartwarming to see people return each year.
“We all look forward to meeting again in these spectacular buildings, and to experience together the magical combination of beautiful sounds within ancient spaces.”
Audiences can expect a rich selection of music that weaves between past and present, to create a beautiful sonic tapestry. Alongside compositions with seasonal resonances by JS Bach, Arvo Pärt and Pēteris Vasks, there will also be pieces that will take listeners to unexpected places including movements from Kaija Saariaho’s Sept Papillons and The Evergreen by Caroline Shaw.
The programme also includes a brand-new work, And At Pains to Temper the Light, by Hannah Kendall, commissioned by Scottish Ensemble, Staatsoper Stuttgart and Staatstheater Stuttgart.
Known for her attentive arrangements and immersive world-building, British composer Hannah Kendall’s music looks beyond the boundaries of composition. Just like Scottish Ensemble, her work bridges gaps between different musical cultures, both honouring and questioning the contemporary tradition while telling new stories through it.
Hannah Kendall said about her new work: “My grandfather and his family were from the Berbice region of Guyana, which has deeply rooted and routed, yet largely unforgotten or unknown, historical connections to Scotland.
“In And At Pains to Temper the Light, I seek to reimagine and refresh these ties, creating renewed spaces of connection that have the potential to inspire transformation through sound.
“I am indebted to Scottish Ensemble, a group of musicians I so deeply admire, for giving me the opportunity to explore this part of my heritage in a way that hopefully also speaks to shared experiences that transcend borders and time.”
Tickets range from £11 – £22 and are free for under 16s. Tickets are available from:
Scottish Ensemble, a pioneering collective of musicians who champion music for strings, announces its 2024-25 season of events.
Exploring the power and breadth of musical experience, Scottish Ensemble’s 2024-25 season will take audiences on a bold adventure with new ideas and collaborations and the return of the ever-popular Concerts by Candlelight and Concerts for a Summer’s Night tours.
Collaborating with creative minds to blur the boundaries between genres and artforms is a hallmark of Scottish Ensemble. In The Law of Gravity (February 2025 – Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow) Scottish Ensemble collaborate with master puppeteer Mark Down and his team at Blind Summit to explore what puppetry can reveal about music.
Performances of Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night and Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 3, will breathe life into the puppet, fleetingly revealing the composer’s intentions, ambitions and ideas. Blind Summit are a cohort of puppet makers and puppeteers, who have contributed to the creation of some of the most extraordinary spectacles of recent years: from the giant storybook characters in the opening ceremony of London’s 2012 Olympic Games to critically acclaimed productions of War Horse and Pinocchio.
Following a memorable performance during Celtic Connections 2024, Donald Grant and Scottish Ensemble once again join forces to revel in the joy of making music together (April 2025 – Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen, Findhorn). Featuring traditional and contemporary string music that bridges genres and tells of life in the Highlands, through Donald’s new work Thuit an Oidhche Oirnn (The Night Overtook Us).
The 2024-25 season begins with Resound (September 2024 – Arran, Kirkcudbright, Perth, Mull, Seil, Glasgow), an intimate guided listening experience that journeys through five centuries of mind-expanding music.
Curated by Scottish Ensemble’s violist Andrew Berridge the works performed will explore how music can transport and inspire, lifting spirits and strengthening connections.
Music has the power to improve wellbeing and Resound complements Scottish Ensemble’s Music for Wellbeing programme. 2024-25 will see the continuation of a long-term partnership with Maggie’s,, whose centres support people who are affected by cancer, and further partnerships with schools across Scotland to support young people’s mental health.
Scottish Ensemble has a proven track record of commissioning works from a new generation of composers – and during this year’s Concerts by Candlelight tour (December 2024 – Perth, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dunblane) performs the world premiere of a new work by Hannah Kendall.
Hannah’s music has been performed across the world, and she share’s Scottish Ensemble’s collaborative spirit, often working with visual artists, choreographers, and poets. This piece marks the second composition supported by Scottish Ensemble’s Calder Commissioning Fund, created through a transformative donation, made in memory of Scottish Ensemble’s late founder John Calder.
Scottish Ensemble’s work with a new generation of musicians also continues with its Young Artists programme, in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. As well as supporting talented young string players through a week-long residency in January, selected Young Artists are offered the opportunity to join one of the ensemble’s Scottish tours as a performer in 2025.
Singer and composer Héloïse Werner features as both soloist and composer in Concerts for a Summer’s Night (June 2025 – Perthshire, Strathpeffer, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee). Words and music will take flight in a vibrant end to the season in light-filled venues across Scotland.
In addition, Scottish Ensemble head to London to perform at the opening weekend of the Southbank Centre’s 2024-25 classical season, with a dynamic programme, that includes Philip Glass’ meditative Symphony No. 3 and explores new musical paths and connections.
in Sync, the acclaimed collaboration with MishMash Productions, also heads south with performances at the Southbank Centre and Nottingham. Further events in Scotland include a special project with Sonica at the Burrell Collection and a concert as part of RCS’s Fridays at One lunchtime series.
Scottish Ensemble have built a devoted following for their Concerts by Candlelight in the Midwinter, and they now present a series of concerts revelling in the long days and abundance of natural light around the Summer Solstice.
Light-filled venues will resonate to the sounds of vibrant, uplifting music, performed with Scottish Ensemble’s characteristic zest and warmth.
From the 17th to the 21st of June, Concerts for a Summer’s Night will celebrate that magical juncture when daylight outlasts the night, filling the air with the promise of endless possibilities. Performances will take place in Rossie Byre in Perthshire, Strathpeffer Pavilion, Aberdeen Art Gallery, The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Audiences can expect a treat as the ensemble blend classical and contemporary works for string orchestra into a joyful sonic summer cocktail.
From familiar works by Elgar and Mendelssohn to the innovative sounds of Tunde Jegede and Sigur Rós, the programme promises to transport listeners through centuries and musical styles, focusing on themes of joy and connection.
The much-awaited second instalment of Glasgow-based composer David Fennessy’s two-part commission will also feature. Following the warmly received debut of RAIN I during Scottish Ensemble’s Concerts by Candlelight performances last December, this new piece promises to captivate and inspire.
Jonathan Morton, Artistic Director of Scottish Ensemble, said: “Following on from last year’s second and warmly received Concerts for a Summer’s Night, I am looking forward to the third edition!
“We hope these events will become – like Concerts by Candlelight in December – a regular and anticipated feature of our season.
“At this time of year, natural light is almost a constant, tempting us to spend more time outside and reconnect with the natural world as well as with each other.
“There is a unique kind of energy around the time of the summer solstice, and I hope that hearing live music in these light-filled venues will be a vibrant and memorable experience.”
Tickets range from £9 – £22.50 and are free for under 16s.
Scottish Ensemble bring moments of stillness and contemplation amidst the slight chaos of the festive season with music to warm your soul as they perform their annual Concerts by Candlelight across Scotland …
From the 7th to the 13th December the pioneering ensemble will visit some of the country’s awe-inspiring churches and cathedrals. Concerts by Candlelight will take place in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
A staple of the Scottish festive calendar these concerts feature vibrant compositions illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight.
Audiences can expect a musical journey that features voices from different centuries and musical styles and focuses on beauty, reflection and connection. Alongside compositions with seasonal resonances by JS Bach, Arvo Pärt and John Tavener, there will also be pieces that will take listeners to unexpected places including Shaker Loops by John Adams, Heads or Tails by Dani Howard and music by Ed Finnis.
A dramatic and atmospheric opening to the concerts is provided by Glasgow-based composer David Fennessey’s Rain I. Commissioned by Scottish Ensemble and given its world premiere during this year’s Concerts by Candlelight, David composed the piece with the resonant and dramatic spaces of the venues in mind.
Rain I is the first instalment of a two-part commission featuring in Scottish Ensembles 2023-24 season, the second of which will feature in Concerts for a Summer’s Night.
Jonathan Morton, Artistic Director of Scottish Ensemble, said:“Our Concerts by Candlelight are a particular highlight of the year at Scottish Ensemble, both for our audiences and our musicians.
“We love going back to these beautifully atmospheric buildings, exploring a broad range of music that we hope will comfort the soul and bolster the spirit.”
Tickets range from £9 – £21.50 and are free for under 16s. Tickets are available from:
Scottish Ensemble presents the first of two specially-commissioned performance films with Glasgow production company Forest of Black: Anna Meredith’s “Tull”
The musical score comes alive when a forest of pink plinths – each with their own independent character – grows homogeneously in response to the music.
Scottish Ensemble musicians – as if museum objects on display – balance precariously on top, whilst performing Anna Meredith’s gripping piece with laser focus.
Released in partnership with Delphian Records, Tull joins Scottish Ensemble’s growing catalogue of visually-striking music videos, from Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 3, to a gripping excerpt from Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony, the second film of their partnership with Forest of Black which will be released in Spring 2024.
“Through creative video techniques, carefully styled set design, and compelling performances, I sought to introduce the audience to a whole new way of experiencing a Scottish Ensemble performance.
“The music’s rich interplay of light and shadow, as well as a sense of spontaneity and playfulness, played a pivotal role in shaping the overall creative direction of the video.
“The final product is a testament to the creative collaboration and dedication of the entire team. Considering the high level of ambition and the numerous technical challenges we faced, I am really pleased that we successfully brought this concept to life!” – AINS Director, Forest of Black
Key Dates:
NOW – single pre-add links live across 20+ streaming services: https://orcd.co/tull
17 November 2023 – Single and Music Video released on Scottish Ensemble YT channel and becomes widely available
Scottish Ensemble are joined by Jasdeep Singh Degun for their latest ambitious cross-genre collaboration.
Scottish Ensemble partner with composer and sitarist Jasdeep Singh Degun, for a collaborative tour across Scotland this October.
Jasdeep is one of Britain’s leading voices in the Indian Classical Music tradition, and this tour will see him performing for the first time in Scotland.
The performance will feature the premier of a new composition by Jasdeep forsitar, tabla and strings, written specifically to be performed alongside Scottish Ensemble’s musicians.
Touring to Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow and Manchester, this performance promises to spin a music tale of mesmerising melody, not to be missed!
“Showcases the classical music of the subcontinent but also mixes, melds and modernises it.” – Financial Times, on Jasdeep’s debut album Anomaly
Scottish Ensemble kick off the first collaboration of their 2023/24 season performing alongside Leeds-born sitarist and composer, Jasdeep Singh Degun. Jasdeep has earned a reputation as one of the UK’s leading voices in the Indian Classical Music tradition.
He has performed at a wide range of prestigious and high-profile venues across the UK and abroad, including performing for Prince Harry as part of BBC Documentary Goldies Band; at the UN opening of the Amphitheatre in Doha, Qatar in 2012 in a concert led by composer Vangelis; accompanying Donovan at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool; and in a sell-outperformance of his album Anomaly at the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room.
Partnering with Scottish Ensemble, Jasdeep will be bringing his unique approach to Indian classical composition to Scottish audiences for the first time. Scottish Ensemble and Jasdeep will tour to Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and Glasgow, with an additional afternoon performance at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
Jasdeep began work with Scottish Ensemble in July, when a quintet of string musicians to joined him and tabla player Harkiret Singh Bahra to begin developing this performance.
Together they began to bring together the complex and contrasting traditions of Indian and Western classical music. Scottish Ensemble took this opportunity to get to grips with the uber-tight rhythms and the beautiful balance of structure and freedom at the heart of the Indian classical music.
Scottish Ensemble are well-known for their innovative and ambitious cross-genre and crossartform collaborations. They strive to create exhilarating musical experiences through working with musicians from a wide array of genres and musical traditions. The development of this work has tested their musicians’ skills and challenged how they think about music and performance.
These moments are where collaboration flourishes, pushing the boundaries of form and genre, and challenging conventional musical labels or categorisation.
This performance will feature a number of compositions by Jasdeep Singh Degun, including works from his album Anomaly, alongside work by medieval German composer Hildegard von Bingen, and American contemporary composer Terry Riley.
These pieces of western repertoire are rooted in minimalism, drones, and improvisation, and were selected to complement and enhance the experience of Jasdeep’s compositions.
Hildegard von Bingen was a 12th-century abbess and polymath and is one of the most well known and most recorded composers of sacred monophony – Christian religious music which follows a single melodic line.
Drawing a contrast with this ancient music, is Terry Riley’s Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector written for the Kronos Quartet in 1980.
This work allows its performers to “co-compose” a version of the piece. It is composed of 24 repeating modules designed to be combined, juxtaposed, and overlapped freely by the musicians in performance.
A highlight of the concert will come with the world premiere of a new work by Jasdeep, commissioned by Scottish Ensemble specifically for this tour.
This new work, composed for sitar, tabla, and string quintet, draws upon the creative collaboration between Jasdeep and Scottish Ensemble’s players from their initial rehearsals. Jasdeep spent two days with Scottish Ensemble’s musicians, sharing knowledge and experience, rehearsing arrangements of Jasdeep’s work and the western repertoire.
This experience and exchange of knowledge has built the foundation for Jasdeep’s new work, which is written specifically to be performed with Scottish Ensemble’s quintet of musicians.
Join Scottish Ensemble and Jasdeep Singh Degun this October for a musical tale, driven by the beautiful spontaneity of the Indian Classical tradition, transporting you through layers of mesmerising melody.
Listings Details
Dundee – Wed 4 October, 8pm – Marryat Hall Edinburgh – Thu 5 October, 8pm – The Queen’s Hall Inverness – Fri 6 October, 8pm – Eden Court Glasgow – Sat 7 October, 8pm – Adelaide Place Manchester – Sun 8 October, 4pm– Royal Northern College of Music
Scottish Ensemblereturns to light-filled venues across Scotland for their sophomore Concerts for a Summer’s Nighttour
‘A fine mixture of well-known favourites and amazing new pieces all perfect for a summer night’s entertainment‘
‘Please make this an annual event, we loved it so so much. Really wonderful, music to soothe the soul.‘
Audience Reviews on Concerts for a Summer’s Night 2022
Concerts for a Summer’s Night will be performed in Perthshire, Strathpeffer, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow from the 19th – 23rd June.
Returning after its debut last year, this concert series promises a variety of uplifting and inspiring compositions, selected by Artistic Director Jonathan Morton.
Scottish Ensemble are announcing their 2023-24 season alongside this tour -– audiences will be able to pick up a copy of the new season brochure on arrival, getting first access to next year’s shows.
Audiences are invited to enjoy a welcome drink on arrival at the venue, then sit back relax and let Scottish Ensemble take them on a vibrant and vivid musical journey.
Scotland’s leading string ensemble will be returning to light– filled venues across Scotland in June for their latest Concert’s for a Summer’s Night tour.
Each concert will be presented in an open atmospheric space, where sunlight pours in through wide windows. Audiences will enjoy the late evening sunshine, as the natural light slowly fades throughout the concert, providing an immersive experience of the music that evolves over time.
Performing at Rossie Byre, Strathpeffer Pavilion, Aberdeen Art Gallery, The National Museum of Scotland, and Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Concerts for a Summers Night promises a unique evening of musical delights, in beautiful and inviting spaces.
The concert series made its debut last summer and is a companion to Scottish Ensemble’s annual Concerts by Candlelight tour which visits stunning churches and cathedrals across Scotland in December for an intimate and restorative musical experience bathed in comforting candlelight.
After the success of its 2022 tour, performing to sold– out audiences in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, Concerts for a Summer’s Night is back, with an additional date in Strathpeffer for Highland audiences.
Concerts for a Summer’s Night features an atmospheric programme, curated by Scottish Ensemble’s Artistic Director, Jonathan Morton.
Having led Scottish Ensemble for almost 20years, Jonathan has forged a trademark programming style that seamlessly combines varied short works of string repertoire into a delicately crafted collage of sound, bringing audiences on a journey through different composers, eras and genres of string music.
This year’s programme includes music by familiar names including Claude Debussy, Frederic Choipin and Maurice Ravel alongside a variety of more unexpected pieces from composers including Isobel Waller-Bridge, Chick Corea and Britta Byström.
This programming style prioritises the atmosphere of the performance and finds unexpected connections between classic works of string repertoire and contemporary compositions, offering listeners an opportunity to be introduced to new pieces, and to discover new favourite composers. Audiences will be swept away by Scottish Ensemble’s skilled musicians on a journey of sonic discovery.
Alongside their Concerts for a Summers Night tour, Scottish Ensemble will be announcing their 2023-24 Season, which goes on sale on 19 June.
With six Scottish tours, as well as festival visits, performances in schools and the continuation of their long running series of Music for Wellbeing concerts in Maggie’s Centres, Scottish Ensemble are preparing for a bold new season.
Audiences, who can arrive from 7.15pm for Concerts for a Summer’s Night, will be treated to a copy of the Season Brochure, and, whilst enjoying a welcome drink, will have an opportunity to discuss the new shows with Scottish Ensemble’s team.
Join Scottish Ensemble this June for a musical celebration of the summer solstice and enjoy a wide programme of contemporary and classical music in beautiful lit venues at Concerts for a Summer’s Night – touring to Perthshire, Strathpeffer, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Listings information
19 June, 8pm – Rossie Byre, Perthshire
20 June. 8pm – Strathpeffer Pavilion
21 June, 8pm – Aberdeen Art Gallery
22 June, 8pm – National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
23 June, 8pm – Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
Tickets £19, Concessions £9 (plus booking fees)
Doors open at 7.15pm for welcome drinks, concert begins at 8pm.
This December Scottish Ensemble will take its annual Concerts by Candlelight on tour to locations across Scotland for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Taking place at venues in Aberdeen, Inverness, Perth, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow from the 2 – 8 December 2021, Concerts by Candlelight: Music for Warmth and Restoration is the perfect pre-Christmas musical feast set against a backdrop of shimmering light.
For the first time ever the incisive and dynamic presence of violinist and director Matthew Truscott will lead proceedings and Concerts by Candlelight: Music for Warmth and Restoration will offer something for every taste, with a selection of music spanning centuries, inclusive of a variety of genre and styles.
A web of connectedness binds this string programme around its central work, Beethoven’s taut and beautiful ‘Heiliger Dankgesang’. A song of thanks for recovery from illness it is one of the most celebrated, profound and joyful pieces of string music from any period, and its intimations of past, present and future make it a very fitting tribute to the past 18 months, as we emerge into the ‘new normal’ and enjoy live music all together, once again.
From the gorgeous musical balm of Henry Purcell to the warmth and generosity of Brahms, the touching music by Biber, and the thick, treacly sonic textures of Julia Wolfe’s Four Marys, wherever you are in Scotland this winter, Concerts by Candlelight is the perfect outing for both families and friends.
Violinist and director Matthew Truscott said:“I am very much looking forward to working with Scottish Ensemble to help bring some warmth and restoration to audiences across Scotland with Concerts by Candlelight this December.
“The programme features music that channels sentiments of courage and overcoming adversity, which seems fitting this year, and I can’t wait to perform in front of live audiences in Scotland once again.”
Scottish Ensemble & Nemone Metaxas launch Common Sound, a concert and discussion celebrating collective experience touring Scotland this October
Scottish Ensemble teams up with 6 Music DJ and psychotherapist Nemone Metaxas for Common Sound
Common Sound is a mix of music and discussion exploring what performance means for audiences & performers
Taking place in Dundee, Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh with performance options adapted to accommodate those social distancing
All tickets are at the special price of £10 to welcome back audiences to live performance
Scottish Ensemble is excited to return to live performance at locations across Scotland for the first time since the pandemic. Common Sound is a brand-new programme of live, in person events exploring the importance of live performance, which will take place at four locations across Scotland this autumn.
Common Sound is an hour-long event that asks the question ‘why is live music important?’ and Scottish Ensemble are inviting audiences from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Inverness to come along, take part and share thoughts, insights and inspiration.
At a time when many, if not most, performances – from music through to dance and theatre – are available to watch online, Nemone and Scottish Ensemble performers will discuss what it is about being in the same room as other people who are all seeing and hearing the same thing, that elevates the quality and impact of a performance.
Blending live musical performance with provocations, conversation and debate, Common Sound will see Nemone and Scottish Ensemble musicians sharing their perspectives on what music does to us and why. Carefully devised sets of music, including tracks by Jonny Greenwood, Caroline Shaw and Steve Reich, will create an absorbing listening experience for mind and body, and a specially developed atmospheric lighting design will bring the music to life on stage.
After 18 months of primarily online performance, SE can’t wait to get back in front of audiences from across the country at this exciting set of events which have been tailored to accommodate those with concerns around safety, as we emerge from the pandemic. In a nod to those who are still adjusting to the ‘new normal’ and seek the reassurance of social distancing, SE will host both socially and non-socially distanced events at all locations, apart from in Dundee Where the single performance will be socially distanced
Common Sound will take place at Cottiers in Glasgow on Wednesday 21 October, at Eden Court in Inverness on Friday 22 October, at Assembly Roxy in Edinburgh on Saturday 23 October and finally at Marryat Hall in Dundee on Sunday 24 October 2021. The performance in Edinburgh on the Saturday 23 October, will be live streamed (audio only) via Mixcloud (full programme below).
William Norris, Interim Chief Executive at Scottish Ensemble, said:“It’s hard to put your finger on what it is exactly, but there’s something very special about sharing a performance with a room full of expectant audience members.
“We hope that Common Sound will go some way to exploring what that intangible something is, and it’s particularly apt as this will be the first time we’ve gathered indoors for live music with audiences across Scotland for almost two years.
“Developing these concerts with Nemone has been a privilege and joy, there have been so many creative ideas being exchanged, and we’re going to have our work cut out to fit it all into a 60 minute show!
“I’m thrilled to be meeting audiences across Scotland, face to face, and exploring our relationship to live music in more depth. It feels like such an important conversation to have, particularly after the events, or rather the non-events of the past 18 months.
“We very excited to share this project with audiences, and as a thank you to them for sticking with us during the last 18 months we’re going to be offering all seats at just £10.”
Nemone Metaxas, 6 Music DJ and psychotherapist, said:“I’m really excited by my first collaboration with Scottish Ensemble. It’s been fantastic devising the Common Sound project with their Artistic Director Jonathan Morton.
“It’s going to be so reaffirming to be back in front of live audiences for Common Sound and listening to live music together once again.”
Set up by Nevis Ensemble and Scottish Ensemble in July 2020 the Scottish Classical Sustainability Group (SCSG) brings together more than 30 of Scotland’s music organisations
SCSG are excited to launch its first Scottish Classical Music Green Guide today
The SCSG won the Environmental Sustainability Award at the 2021 Scottish Awards for New Music hosted by New Music Scotland
Set up during the pandemic, the Scottish Classical Sustainability Group (SCSG) is putting the welfare of our planet in the spotlight with the launch of its first ever Scottish Classical Music Green Guide.
Given the events of the past eighteen months, both in terms of how the COVID-19 pandemic has made us reconsider our impact on the environment, and the natural disasters – from floods through to wildfires – that we have witnessed taking place across the globe, the issue of environmental sustainability has been top of the agenda for many, and not least Scotland’s musical sector, who have come together to discuss how they can reduce the impact of their work on the planet.
The SCSG brings together more than 30 of Scotland’s music organisations, alongside Creative Scotland, Creative Carbon Scotland, Musicians’ Union and Association of British Orchestras (ABO) and was set up in July 2020 by Nevis Ensemble and Scottish Ensemble.
Today, 28 July 2021 it launches its first ever Scottish Classical Music Green Guide.
Aimed at changing behaviours not only in organisations, but in individual musicians and audiences across the country, and for both professional and leisure-time ensembles, the guide is the culmination of discussions around how the sector can best address the Climate Emergency as we aim for a Net Zero society.
Established in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the work of the SCSG has already seen it win the Environmental Sustainability Award at the 2021 Scottish Awards for New Music hosted by New Music Scotland.
The Green Guide, building on the 2010 Green Orchestras Guide, put together by the ABO, Julie’s Bicycle and Orchestras Live, shares ideas, knowledge and tips on how organisations can engage with staff, musicians and audiences, but also on how individual musicians can exert influence, whether as freelancers or as part of a larger organisation.
Examples of best practice from across the Scottish classical sector, including Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Drake Music Scotland, Live Music Now Scotland and the National Youth Choir of Scotland are also highlighted.
The guide ends with a series of pledges from members, detailing actions they plan to take in the next twelve months to concretely reduce their emissions.
Actions include stopping all staff flights within the UK, engaging international promoters in discussions about how the greater costs of more sustainable land travel can be covered when planning tours, and replacing one-off performances from international guests with longer residencies.
William Norris, Interim Chief Executive at Scottish Ensemble, said: “We are hugely proud of the way in which Scotland’s ensembles, orchestras, organisations and musicians have come together to put the health and sustainability of our planet centre stage. Particularly after a year to eighteen months of huge instability and insecurity for everyone within the sector, and indeed across the world.
“This guide represents our collective commitment to ensuring best practice not only within our own organisation, but with the other organisations, individuals and audiences we engage with on a regular basis, and we really hope it help others as much as it us.”
Ben Twist, Director of Creative Carbon Scotland says: “We’ve learned a lot from seeing how the members of the Scottish Classical Sustainability Group have collaborated over the past year, even during the exceptionally difficult circumstances that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented for those working in the arts.
“This detailed guide is testament to the group members’ commitment to playing a part in addressing climate change, their ability to share and learn from each other, and the growing environmental expertise that they are developing within the classical music sector.”
Scott Crawford Morrison of the Scottish Classical Sustainability Group says: “We are thrilled to launch this Guide, which we hope will be used not only by organisations, but also by individual musicians, whether professional, student or leisure-time.
“As music organisations and individuals, we pride ourselves on having close relationships to our communities and audiences – let us also make full use of the amazing power of culture to inform and transform thinking, and work collectively to reduce the emissions associated with our current ways of living and working.”
Gavin Reid, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra says: “With the climate emergency and issues of global sustainability ever present in our minds, this comprehensive guide for the orchestral sector is a vital touchstone which will help inform our collective thinking, planning and knowledge as we work towards a sustainable musical future.”
Here are some suggestions from the Scottish Classical Sustainability Group for how to make the most of the guide:
Share it widely within your network: with friends and colleagues, different teams across your organisation – including musicians, and with senior management staff, and board/committee members.
Discuss it: online or in person. A discussion of the guide will provide a good opportunity to create momentum, engage in meaningful conversations and agree on actions.
Make it visible: the more people who read the guide, the more effective it will be! You can share it on social media and add news stories or blog posts to your website linking to the guide.
Arrange an event: if you would like to arrange an event for staff or audiences to talk about the ideas in the guide, and would like members of the Scottish Classical Sustainability Group to talk at this, drop them an email at: georgina@nevisensemble.org
