Performers from the Aberdeen City Music School (ACMS) are bound for Braemar later this week, as they take part in a residential weekend of performances and community events.
The three day “take-over” sees a range of musical events in a number of unique venues throughout the Deeside village, including leading arts venue St Margaret’s Braemar, the Highland games Centre, the 5-star Fife Arms Hotel and the newly reopened Braemar Castle.
ACMS is one of the four Scottish Centres of Excellence for music education, providing exceptionally talented young musicians to reach their full potential .
The first performance of the weekend — a chilli and jazz night — takes place in the Duke of Rothesay Pavilion, the home of the famous Braemar Gathering on Friday, June 7 from 7pm. Led by pianist Neil Birse, ACMS pupils will perform jazz standards, jazz/pop fusion and improvised vocal and instrumental numbers.
Saturday afternoon (8th June) will feature a vocal recital of works by Brahms, Mozart, Schubert and Vaughan Williams in the Fife Arms Hotel at 1pm, followed by a Chamber Music Concert at 2pm in Braemar Castle.
For an easy listening audience, the lawn outside the Invercauld Arms hotel will play host to singer/songwriter, acoustic and popular music performances from 3pm on Saturday.
St Margaret’s Braemar hosts the main concert of the three-day programme on Saturday night at 7.30pm, featuring solo, ensemble, and trad performances ranging from Bach to Bacharach. Pupils from the Aberdeen City Music School will showcase their repertoire from the 2023/24 concert programme, including pieces recently performed at the Aberdeen Music Hall and Beach Ballroom. Tickets are priced at £15, which includes a BBQ supper.
Sunday offers up a community singing workshop led by ACMS Director Kevin Kyle. All ages and levels of experience are welcome to take part in this free event which takes place in St Margaret’s from 10am.
Further details are available via St Margaret’s Braemar — https://www.stmargaretsbraemar.org.uk/events-calendar/aberdeen-city-music-school-music-tour-to-braemar
Commenting, St Margaret’s Trustee Colin Hunter OBE said: “We are looking forward to a packed weekend of great music from some very talented young musicians.
“It will be a real Braemar take-over, with jazz, chamber music, choral, traditional and popular music from a variety of groups and performers across five venues throughout the village.
“We’ve got a jazz night in the Highland Games Centre, classical song in the Fife Arms, chamber music in Braemar Castle, al fresco easy listening on the Invercauld lawn and concerts and song workshops at St Margaret’s.”