The Cumnock Tryst returns this year with a star-studded line-up and concerts, events and workshops that put talent, community and young musicians centre stage.
Boasting a brand-new concert venue, an artist-in-residence and its first ever visual art exhibition, the festival continues to advocate music for all.
Kicking off on September 30, award-winning mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill will perform at the festival for the very first time with Simon Lepper on piano. They will perform two concerts back-to-back and with no interval at St John the Evangelist Church.
This format will be used throughout the festival to allow for a maximum and safely managed audience, and this concert will also be the first of four to be streamed live throughout the festival.
Karen said: “I have massive admiration for Sir James, his continued creative output and his devotion to his community, a huge part of this wonderful festival.”
Billed to be one of the stand out performances is the pairing of Steven Osborne and Paul Lewis on piano, who will take to the stage in Cumnock Town Hall on October 2.
Virtuoso saxophonist Christian Forshaw, this year’s artist-in-residence, will be joined by Nigel Short and a consort of Tenebrae singers, for Drop, Drop, Slow, Tear, on October 1.
Day two begins with the culmination of an education project in Hillside School led by James MacMillan, Matilda Brown, Tenebrae, Christian Forshaw and Drake Music Scotland and on October 1, the Tryst will host the launch of ‘Creative Composition for the Classroom’, a new book for music teachers and young composers written by Sir James MacMillan and Jennifer Martin.
The book will launch at the brand-new Barony Hall, on the new Barony Campus.
On October 2, Christian Forshaw will join Sir James MacMillan and The Robert Burns Academy Senior Concert Band for Improvise! a public workshop treating audiences and band members alike to a demonstration that demystifies the art of composition and performance.
The Tryst will come to a close with a ceilidh.
Sir James said: “We look forward to enjoying live music with friends, new audiences, those on staycation and other visitors once more.”
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