More than 3,000 Primary 4 pupils from every Aberdeen City Council primary school came together at Duthie Park to take part in Aberdeen Big Sing and Play 2026.
Over the past three years, Primary 4 pupils across the city have enjoyed the opportunity to sing together as one large choir. This year, for the first time, the event included instrumental performances – offering pupils a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform side-by-side with professional musicians from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO).
This year’s enhanced programme also featured a range of instrumental groups from Aberdeen City Council’s Music Service, including the Senior Ensemble, Intermediate Strings and Wind groups, Intermediate Band as well as the Music Service Rock Band.
Aberdeen City Council’s Music Service worked in partnership with the RSNO and Charanga Music, a music learning and support organisation, meant many more pupils could take part in the event.
Shona Milne, Chief Officer – Education and Lifelong Learning, Aberdeen City Council, said: “Big Sing and Play shows the power of music to bring young people together across Aberdeen. Seeing thousands of pupils perform alongside professional musicians highlights their talent and the value of high-quality, inclusive music education.
“The event builds confidence, creativity and teamwork, and its expansion to include instrumental and orchestral performances ensures even more children can benefit from learning and performing together.”
Image from left to right: Primary 4 pupils are pictured with Shona Milne, Chief Officer – Education and Lifelong Learning, Aberdeen City Council; John Whitener, Tuba player, RSNO; and Mark Cardy, Education Director, Charanga; at Aberdeen Big Sing and Play 2026, Duthie Park.
RSNO Director of Learning and Engagement Andrew Stevenson, said: “We’ve loved taking part in this year’s Big Sing and Play, working with our partner Charanga to support Aberdeen City Council’s Music Service’s amazing work.
“The RSNO is committed to providing opportunities for communities across Scotland and even when we have a symphony orchestra touring China, we are still able to bring RSNO players to Aberdeen to perform alongside these brilliant young people.”
Mark Cardy, Education Director, Charanga, said: “We are delighted that our partners, Aberdeen City Music Service and the RSNO are coming together to provide this fantastic opportunity for so many young people. We at Charanga are pleased that teachers and students have been able to learn these songs through our platform.”
Teaching in schools was supported by the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland.
The event opened with the ‘play’ element, showcasing musicians from the Music Service before pupils came together for the mass singalong.
Songs performed by the Primary Four pupils included “Hands, Feet, Heart”; “Sunshine on a Rainy Day”, “Dreaming of Mars”, Sparkle in My Life”, “Our Aberdeen”; “Notre Petite Plantete”, and “Sea Journey”. The pupils will also sing “Livin’ on a Prayer” accompanied by the Music Service Rock Band.
Instrumental pieces performed included “Due North”; “Shipping Up to Boston”; “Nobody Knows”; and “All the Small Things”.
“Hands, Feet, Heart” and “Sunshine on a Rainy Day” were performed in a standout collaboration by the Senior Ensemble, the RSNO, Ashley Road School Band and Riverbank School’s Riverband.
To bring the event to a close, all the instrumentalists came together for a performance of “Crazy Train”.
The Robert Gordon College Pipe Band and pupils from the International School also participated in this year’s event.