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Stressed out workers can relax at AIYF lunchtime sessions

Stressed out workers are being urged to break free from the shackles of their desk during Aberdeen International Youth Festival (AIYF) and chill out with soothing music and song at a series of lunchtime sessions.

The performances in the city centre offer an ideal opportunity for office workers to get away from it all and forget the stresses and strains of the working day.

AIYF has joined forces with Union Square to host short hour-long sets by performers every day at 12 noon, but workers tempted by the chance to have an extended lunch are also catered for. Shows include:

• German youth theatre iDoodle with their adaptation of The Three Musketeers at the Lemon Tree on August 1 at 2.30pm

• Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama opera singers performing at Elphinstone Hall on King’s College Campus on August 2 at 1pm

• All girls Norwegian choir Stord Ungdomskor at Holburn West Church on August 3 at 11am

• Pianist Sarah Ayoub at Cowdray Hall on August 4 at 1pm

• Classical dup Christopher Baxter and Alice Allen at Craigebuckler Church on August 5 at 11am

AIYF artistic director Stewart Aitken urged people working in the city centre – or just enjoying a day out – to soak up the sights and sounds of the world’s biggest celebration of youth arts.

He added: “It’s well known that taking a break for lunch has benefits for health and wellbeing. Getting out of the workplace not only gives people a much-needed rest, but can also help to boost productivity levels and even help staff gain a different perspective on problems they may have been trying to resolve all morning.

“Too many people either don’t take a break or cut it short, and we hope that these performances in the late morning and early afternoon will encourage people to relax and be entertained by some extraordinarily talented youngsters. Many of the venues for these sessions are small and intimate which allows audiences to get up close to the action.”

AIYF is now in its 39th year and brings together the very best young musicians, singers, actors and dancers from all over the world. Details of the full festival programme are available at www.aiyf.org

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