ANOTHER successful Cumnock Tryst event has come and gone, with a special celebration for this year's festival.

Hundreds of people turned out at a packed extended programme of events.

Celebrations were in full swing, as this year the event was marking its 10th anniversary.

From Wednesday to Sunday (October 6), the festival welcomed some of classical music’s finest performers to East Ayrshire, including pianist Steven Osborne, the Maxwell Quartet, the Gesualdo Six, Joshua Ellicott, and the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Local favourites returned too, and the newly formed Cumnock Tryst Ensemble making its debut.


The festival was founded by world-renowned Scottish composer Sir James MacMillan who grew up in Cumnock, with it going from strength to strength since 2014.

All sorts of events took place during the festival, including 'The Cumnock Hour' at Dumfries Arms Hotel, and Pupils from Robert Burns Academy in 'Music of Land Reclamation' at Barony Campus.

The Cumnock Tryst 10th birthday gala concert was held on Saturday at the Barony Campus, with a full house in attendance.

Just like years gone by, another successful event was capped off on the Sunday, with this year including a festival service in Mauchline, The Cumnock Tryst Ensemble's launch, and then the final word from 'Gueseldo Six Queen of Hearts' at St John's Church.