EDINBURGH 25/26
This Season, we honour our shared love of music through a series of interviews with our players. We explore their profound connection to the music and audiences, and reveal a few of their stories along the way.
I am delighted to invite you to a rich and varied collection of concerts in our 2025/26 Season, with plenty for every musical taste.
We’re proud to be expanding the SCO’s musical horizons more broadly than ever – as you’ll discover in the wide range of music we’re playing for you, and in the world class performers joining us. Throughout it all however, you’ll rediscover music’s power to inspire and console, to challenge and celebrate –and, of course, to entertain.
I’ve been delighted as always to work with our outstanding Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev on the new Season – but I’ll leave it to him to introduce the concerts that he’s conducting.
I’m also proud that the SCO Chorus will be demonstrating their exceptional vocal talents across several concerts, from celebratory Glorias by Vivaldi and Poulenc to Mozart’s legendary Requiem, and also in what promises to be an especially beautiful selection of Christmas music.
We’re excited to be making music again with some of our most cherished friends, including Nicola Benedetti, Colin Currie and Steven Osborne.
Photo: Stuart Armitt
Pekka Kuusisto looks set to bring a typically pioneering perspective to Beethoven with his friends in Nordic folk trio Dreamers’ Circus, while Roderick Williams sings in his own orchestral arrangement of Butterworth’s poignant A Shropshire Lad, plus a brand-new piece by our much-praised Associate Composer Jay Capperauld.
Our brilliant Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze directs three minimalist masterpieces by John Adams as well as Vaughan Williams’ exquisite Serenade to Music – and he even picks apart the intricacies of Webern’s jewel-like Symphony. The New Dimensions series, meanwhile, continues to stretch all of our musical imaginations – come as you are, and immerse yourself in fascinating sounds in a laid-back setting.
I hope you enjoy the riches, the diversity and even the surprises in your new Season. We’re looking forward to seeing you at our concerts.
Gavin Reid LVO Chief Executive, SCO
I can hardly believe that 2025/26 will be my seventh season with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra! I love being in Scotland, where I know I’ll always receive an enthusiastic welcome –and I’m excited, of course, to continue my musical relationships with the SCO’s musicians. Just as much, I truly value the trust and affection I hope I’ve developed with you, the SCO’s listeners. And I’m excited to share with you the concerts I’ll be directing in the 2025/26 Season – which will allow me to perform as conductor, pianist and more. Our opening concert traces a profound journey from darkness to light – from wartime grief in Strauss’ Metamorphosen to the blazing light of triumph in Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Just as dazzling is Vivaldi’s joyful Gloria, which I’ll be directing alongside the far more cosmopolitan Gloria by Poulenc, both with the excellent SCO Chorus.
I’ll be looking forward to the festive season with two magnificent – and very different – pieces: Berlioz’s sumptuous oratorio L’Enfance du Christ, and Tchaikovsky’s magical The Nutcracker I felt privileged to conduct the SCO in Mozart’s final three symphonies at the
BBC Proms in 2021, and I’m looking forward to bring that trio of remarkable works to Scotland this Season – and our annual Baroque Inspirations concert is always a highlight of my musical year!
I’ll also be joining colleagues from within the Orchestra in two warm-hearted chamber pieces by Schumann, as well as accompanying the SCO’s fantastic Principal Cello Philip Higham in the same composer’s lyrical Concerto, and the wonderful Nicola Benedetti in Mendelssohn’s beautiful Violin Concerto. I’ll be bringing the new Season to a colourful conclusion alongside another cherished colleague, when Steven Osborne joins us for Shostakovich’s madcap Piano Concerto No.1.
I can’t wait to share this music with you.
Maxim Emelyanychev Principal Conductor, SCO
Photo: Andrej Grilc
From the glories of the Baroque to the colour and energy of the 21st century: masterpieces that you know and love –plus a few surprises along the way – in towering performances from worldrenowned musicians including Nicola Benedetti, Steven Osborne, Colin Currie and Pekka Kuusisto.
Be moved and inspired by the power of the human voice – in music for joyful celebration and poignant reflection, from Vivaldi’s dazzling Gloria to Mozart’s mighty Requiem and Vaughan Williams’ gorgeous Serenade to Music
Think again about classical concerts: music for the mind, body and soul from minimalist masters Steve Reich and John Adams, plus vibrant saxophonist Jess Gillam. Make discoveries and explore new sound worlds: this is music to provoke, stimulate and charm.
Who said concerts had to be evening affairs? Spend an afternoon with the SCO in the company of virtuoso violinist Anthony Marwood, early music pioneer Peter Whelan and charismatic violinist/ director Lorenza Borrani – from new perspectives on Mozart to the grandeur of Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony.
Immerse yourself in the seasonal spirit with Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev and Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, two of music’s most evocative Christmastime works – plus all the captivating tunes and dazzling dances of a traditional Viennese New Year.
Get intimate with the SCO’s exceptional musicians amid the sparkling wit and dazzling interplay of chamber classics – from a Mozart-inspired serenade to Scottish masterpieces, and two of Schumann’s sunniest creations in the company of Maxim Emelyanychev.
Experience the SCO in a magical storytelling show specially created for younger listeners – and their older family and friends too, of course.
Be captivated by the joy and passion of the SCO wherever you are in the world in specially created films featuring three ravishing pieces by SCO Associate Composer Jay Capperauld, one of Scotland’s most distinctive and original voices.
Book 4+ tickets and save
Book a minimum of four eligible concerts and receive great ticket discounts, plus take advantage of our flexible ticket exchange policy. The more concerts you book, the bigger the discount!
Spread the cost
You can spread the cost of your Season Multibuy by paying by Direct Debit over three monthly installments (1 Jul, 1 Aug, 1 Sep). If you would like to pay by Direct Debit we ask that you book no later than Friday 13 June 2025. Please call the SCO on 0131 557 6800 to make your booking and arrange your Direct Debit payment plan.
Alternatively, you can purchase your Multibuy using a debit/credit card or by cheque (made payable to Scottish Chamber Orchestra).
Photo: Christopher Bowen
Current 12+ Multibuy bookers
Mon 24 Mar – Fri 11 Apr 2025
12+ Multibuy bookers for the 2024/25 Season will receive a telephone call from us to arrange their booking for the 2025/26 Season during the booking period above. Where possible, we will hold their seats from the current Season for the upcoming 2025/26 Season.
Current 4-11 Multibuy bookers
Mon 14 Apr – Fri 2 May 2025
4-11 Multibuy bookers for the 2024/25 Season can book Multibuy packages for the 2025/26 Season via the SCO website, over the phone or by sending us a completed booking form.
New Multibuy bookers
Mon 12 May – Fri 26 Sep 2025
New bookers can purchase Multibuy packages for the 2025/26 Season via the SCO website, over the phone or by sending us a completed booking form.
Visit sco.org.uk/multibuy to book your Multibuy package for the Season. Previous Multibuy bookers should log in to access priority booking online. New Multibuy bookers can book online from 12 May. Online Multibuy bookings will only be available until 18 May, after which point all online ticket sales will be via venue box offices.
By phone
Call 0131 557 6800 between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, and ask for our ticketing team.
By post
Send your completed booking form to us at SCO Tickets, 4 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5AB.
“In such a hectic life, spending time to go to a place and sit down and actively listen — it’s like an act of rebellion”
STRAUSS Metamorphosen
MACMILLAN
Veni, Veni Emmanuel
BEETHOVEN Symphony No.5
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor Colin Currie percussion
Thu 2 Oct, 7.30pm
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
To launch our vibrant new Season, join the SCO players and our electrifying Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev on an unforgettable journey from darkness to light.
Few can be left unmoved by the pity of Richard Strauss’ deeply cathartic Metamorphosen, a profoundly poignant reflection on the destruction of World War Two.
From its famously gripping opening, however, Beethoven’s best-loved Symphony - the Fifth - forges a path from compelling conflict to the blazing radiance of triumph.
In between, superstar Scottish percussionist Colin Currie makes the first of his appearances this Season as central protagonist in Sir James MacMillan’s joyful, theatrical, visionary percussion concerto Veni, Veni Emmanuel – a dazzling celebration of new life and new hope.
Kindly supported by Donald and Louise MacDonald in memory of Euan MacDonald
POULENC
Sinfonietta
POULENC
Gloria
VIVALDI
Gloria
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
Anna Dennis soprano
Rachel Redmond soprano
Tim Mead counter tenor
SCO Chorus
Gregory Batsleer chorus director
Thu 9 Oct, 7.30pm
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
Exhilarating choral splendours from across two centuries, with the magnificent SCO Chorus and an exceptional line-up of vocal soloists under the energetic direction of Maxim Emelyanychev.
A hymn of praise to the Creator, the Gloria brings you joy and life-affirming optimism whatever your beliefs. Vivaldi’s Gloria is one of the dazzling jewels of Baroque music – sunny, exuberant, and an all-embracing celebration of light and life. Poulenc’s Gloria blends Gallic wit and sophistication with its profound spiritual expression and is a captivating mix of the sacred and the playful.
To begin though, Poulenc unleashes zesty energy and musical mischief to celebrate French liberation after World War Two – his Sinfonietta is an outpouring of happiness, and the closest he came to writing a symphony. Sponsored by
STRAUSS
Suite in B-flat Op.4
HARTMANN
Concerto funèbre
HAYDN
Symphony No.103 in E-flat
‘Drum Roll’
Alina Ibragimova violin/director
Violinist Alina Ibragimova leads us from grief and fear to radiant joy in her deeply emotional concert with the SCO. Ibragimova is among today’s most compelling, perceptive soloists, combining a penetrating musical intellect with gripping, passionate playing – qualities very much on display in her intensely expressive programme.
Haydn composed his ‘Drum Roll’ Symphony expressly to impress, inspire and delight – and more than two centuries later, it still does all three. The sunny, colourful B-flat Suite was the piece that kick-started the 20-year-old Richard Strauss’ musical career, and its music feels just as fresh and appealing today.
Ibragimova’s concert centrepiece is a concerto she has long championed. Written during the dark first days of the Second World War, Karl Amadeus Hartmann’s Concerto funèbre draws on influences from Bruckner and Mahler in music of deep compassion, sadness and visionary hope.
Thu 23 Oct, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
MOZART
Piano Concerto No.21 in C K467
WEBERN Symphony
MOZART
Piano Concerto No.24 in C minor K491
Andrew Manze conductor
Yeol Eum Son piano
Exceptional South Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son has dazzled and delighted SCO audiences over the past couple of years with her exquisitely poetic playing and her exuberant enthusiasm. She is famed for her particularly meaningful insights in Mozart’s music, and she returns with two of the great composer’s most compelling concertos: the profoundly expressive No.21 and deeply dramatic No.24.
In between, SCO Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze guides you through one of music’s most fascinating creations. Every note tells a story in Anton Webern’s jewel-like 1928 Symphony, which distills all the expression and emotion of a larger work down to just a few, brief minutes.
Thu 30 Oct, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
JOE DUDDELL Snowblind
HELEN GRIME
River (UK Premiere)
STEVE REICH
Runner
STEVE REICH
Double Sextet
Colin Currie director/percussion
Minimalist masterpieces from the visionary US maverick composer Steve Reich – in performances directed by his close friend and trusted collaborator, Edinburgh-born Colin Currie.
Mesmerising power, galvanising rhythm, bewitching harmony: Reich’s Runner is a rich and brightly coloured tribute to raw energy, while the mesmerising Double Sextet won Reich the 2009 Pulitzer Prize, new music’s greatest accolade.
To begin, Currie is the soloist in the propulsive and beautifully reflective percussion concerto Snowblind, written for him by Manchester-born Joe Duddell, a collaborator with Elbow and James. And Scottish composer Helen Grime charts an evocative fluvial journey from source to sea.
Thu 6 Nov, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £30
SCHUMANN
Overture, Scherzo and Finale
MOZART
Violin Concerto No.1 in B-flat
HANDEL
Agrippina: Sinfonia HWV 6
SCHUMANN
Violin Concerto in D minor
Anthony Marwood director/violin
Accomplished soloist, perceptive director and close collaborator with the SCO, British violinist Anthony Marwood makes a welcome return for music to captivate you and – perhaps – surprise you in this exciting matinee programme.
The heartfelt and hauntingly beautiful Violin Concerto was one of the very last pieces Schumann created in his tragically short life. Though rarely performed, it’s a work of great intimacy and Romantic richness – qualities that also shine through in the vibrant, thoroughly entertaining Overture, Scherzo and Finale.
In between, Marwood showcases his exceptional skills in the witty First Violin Concerto by the teenage Mozart, and surveys the grandeur and brilliance of the overture to Handel’s dramatic 1709 opera, Agrippina.
Thu 13 Nov, 2pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
“There is an honesty and openness I found with the players here (at SCO)”
MOZART arr CEBRIÁN
Music from The Marriage of Figaro
MACMILLAN
Untold
CAPPERAULD
Carmina Gadelica
DOVE
Figures in the Garden MOZART
Sextet in B-flat KV270
MENDELSSOHN arr CEBRIÁN
Music from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
SCO Wind Soloists
RCS Wind Soloists
Sun 23 Nov, 3pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £21
The SCO’s internationally renowned Wind Soloists join forces with some of Scotland’s most accomplished young players for a kaleidoscopic concert of wit and wild imagination – with Mozart rediscovered amid some distinctively Scottish landscapes.
SCO Principal Flute André Cebrián follows in a centuries-old tradition in reworking music from Mozart’s sparkling operas for the velvety richness of a wind ensemble, while Jonathan Dove imagines The Marriage of Figaro taking place among the blooms and bushes of a very English garden.
By way of contrast, Sir James MacMillan explores an Irish love song in his early, rarely heard Untold, while SCO Associate Composer Jay Capperauld takes inspiration from Gaelic hymns, incantations and songs in his striking new wind dectet, Carmina Gadelica.
In partnership with
BERLIOZ
L’Enfance du Christ
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
Paula Murrihy Mary
Andrew Staples
Narrator, Centurion
Roderick Williams
Joseph, Polydorus
Callum Thorpe
Herod, Ishmaelite Father
SCO Chorus
Gregory Batsleer chorus director
Welcome the coming festive season with one of the tenderest, most captivating Christmas pieces ever created.
L’Enfance du Christ is a lavish operatic oratorio that tells of Herod’s Massacre of the Innocents, and the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt, blending surging drama and ethereal wonder, mighty choral set pieces with sublime solos of exquisite beauty. Berlioz conjures music of deep passion and belief, but it’s also a moving story of new life and family love that brings you up close to Mary, Joseph and Jesus as they flee their home and run for their lives.
Maxim Emelyanychev directs Berlioz’s visionary masterpiece, with an exceptional cast of international vocal soloists, and the richness of the SCO Chorus.
Thu 27 Nov, 7.30pm
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
TCHAIKOVSKY
The Nutcracker
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
Introduced by Jay Capperauld
Thu 4 Dec, 7.30pm
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
From the delicate ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ to the elegant ‘Waltz of the Flowers’, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker conjures all the magic and wonder of Christmas – and it’s as much of a seasonal treat for classical newcomers as it is for aficionados.
Maxim Emelyanychev invites you to immerse yourself in all the sugar, snow and sparkle of the composer’s full ballet score, as young Clara sees her beloved Nutcracker transformed into a handsome Prince, who whisks her away to the Land of Sweets.
With its heart-melting melodies and foot-tapping dances – and singers joining the Orchestra to bring his timeless classic to colourful life – this is a Christmas feast for the senses.
ADAMS
Shaker Loops
ADAMS
Gnarly Buttons
ADAMS
Fearful Symmetries
Andrew Manze conductor
Maximiliano Martín clarinet
Once a self-identifying minimalist, radical American composer John Adams quickly jumped from cool, hypnotic pulsations to red-hot emotion and vast cinematic soundscapes in his colourful, witty music. Experience that thrilling journey in three iconic pieces by this pioneering musician.
Minimalist classic Shaker Loops is a rippling soundscape of quivering energy – sometimes frenetic, sometimes meditative, but never less than mesmerisingly beautiful.
Mooing cows and ancient American hymns are among the inspirations behind Adams’ zany clarinet concerto Gnarly Buttons – played by charismatic SCO Principal Clarinet Maximiliano Martín – which blends humour and heart in music that spans jazz, pop, folk and the surging repetitions of minimalism. Fearful Symmetries is one of Adams’ boldest and brightest pieces, a high-energy workout of driving rhythms and larger-than-life orchestral sound.
Thu 11 Dec, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £30
MOZART
Serenade KV 320 ‘Posthorn’, interspersed with arias from Mitridate, La clemenza di Tito, Così fan tutte and The marriage of Figaro.
MOZART
Overture, Der Schauspieldirektor
Peter Whelan conductor/fortepiano
Tara Erraught mezzo soprano
Maximiliano Martín clarinet
Peter Franks posthorn
From a big-hearted Serenade to uplifting opera arias – celebrate the full breadth of Mozart’s musical glories at this sumptuous concert in the company of some passionate Mozartians.
Peter Whelan is one of Europe’s most exciting interpreters of Baroque and Classical repertoire –formerly the SCO’s Principal Bassoon, he’s now Artistic Director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra. He intersperses the movements of Mozart’s festive ‘Posthorn’ Serenade – which wittily incorporates the distinctive sounds of the mail-coach trumpet –with vibrant arias from some of the composer’s most adored operas, sung by acclaimed Irish mezzo soprano Tara Erraught.
From strong emotions to effervescent fun, experience all the musical mastery of Mozart.
Thu 18 Dec, 2pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
Photo: Marco Borggreve
BRITTEN
A Ceremony of Carols
REBECCA DALE
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening TALLIS
Vidente Miraculum
RODERICK WILLIAMS
O Adonai
JAY CAPPERAULD
The Winter’s Brightening (World Premiere)*
SCO Chorus
Gregory Batsleer chorus director
Eleanor Hudson harp
As Christmas grows close, step into the warm glow of choral splendour as the SCO Chorus fills Greyfriars Kirk with seasonal music to captivate, calm and inspire you.
Immerse yourself in Tallis’ serene Renaissance polyphony and Britten’s magical choral ritual welcoming the Yuletide season with a tapestry of carols ancient and modern. Celebrated British composer Rebecca Dale provides spiritual insights, while Roderick Williams surrounds you with wintry birdsong and celebration, supplication and faith in his luminous O Adonai.
A brand-new seasonal creation from SCO Associate Composer Jay Capperauld brings the concert to a light-filled, warming conclusion.
Please note: These concerts are not part of the SCO Multibuy ticket offer.
Sun 21 & Mon 22 Dec, 7.30pm
Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
Tickets £21
*Commissioned by the SCO Chorus
J STRAUSS II
Tales from the Vienna Woods
J STRAUSS II
Die Fledermaus, Overture and Arias
LÉHAR
Gold and Silver Waltz
J STRAUSS II
Blue Danube Waltz
J STRAUSS Radetsky March
Andrew Manze conductor
Rachel Redmond soprano
Thu 1 Jan, 3pm
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £45
Immerse yourself in all the glorious opulence of a traditional Viennese New Year celebration – and welcome 2026 in lavish style.
Indulge your senses with a tempting selection of timeless Viennese waltzes, polkas and more by the iconic Strauss family – from the sparkling Die Fledermaus Overture to the rapturous beauty of The Blue Danube
SCO Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze is your guide to this captivating world of musical wonders, and he’s joined by internationally celebrated, Glasgow-born soprano Rachel Redmond.
HAYDN
Symphony No.56 in C
SCHNITTKE
Concerto Grosso No.1
SCHUBERT
Symphony No.8 ‘Unfinished’
Lorenza Borrani director/violin
Thu 15 Jan, 2pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
Smouldering drama collides with daring humour in this vibrant matinee concert directed by inspirational Italian violinist Lorenza Borrani.
As energetic as she is charismatic – and Leader of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe since 2008 – Borrani brought an intimate chamber sensibility to her SCO debut in spring 2024. She returns to delve deep into one of classical music’s greatest enigmas. Nobody knows why Franz Schubert abandoned his ‘Unfinished’ Symphony after just two movements – but with their haunting beauty and dramatic intensity, they come together in one of the repertoire’s most compelling creations.
Soviet pioneer Alfred Schnittke hurls together Baroque parodies, avant-garde extremism, tangos, waltzes and more in the madcap musical funhouse of his Concerto Grosso No.1, while Haydn offers wit, sophistication and elegance in his joyful Symphony No.56.
“I fell in love with the Orchestra the first time I played with them”
MOZART
Symphony No.39
Symphony No.40
Symphony No.41
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
Thu 29 Jan, 7.30pm
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
Mozart’s final trilogy of symphonies are visionary, pioneering works, as powerful as they are passionate, and represent a lifetime of emotion and experience from a composer at the height of his musical creativity. They’re also a mystery, written together in a blaze of white-hot creativity, though it’s not known why – some even suggest Mozart may have conceived them as a single, monumental mega-symphony.
Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev and the SCO drew adulation from critics and audiences alike for their fresh, incisive performances of these symphonies at the 2021 BBC Proms. Discover – or rediscover – the pieces’ compelling power as Maxim brings his vibrant visions to Scotland, from the elegance and warmth of No.39 to the deep passions and drama of No.40, and the triumphant glories of No. 41, the ‘Jupiter’ Symphony.
Kindly supported by Anne, Tom and Natalie Usher
CAPPERAULD
The Great Grumpy Gaboon*
CORRINA CAMPBELL
Story and illustrations
Gordon Bragg conductor
Sat 7 Feb, 12pm & 2.30pm
Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh
Tickets £15, Under 18s £7.50, Family ticket
£36
Relaxed performance suitable for 4-8 yrs
After sell-out performances in 2024 and travelling the country in 2025, The Great Grumpy Gaboon returns to Edinburgh in 2026 for two fun-packed performances at The Assembly Rooms on George Street.
While the Gaboon’s friends, Long-legged Lin, Fluey-Lu, Woolly Wello and Hoppity Boppit, try everything to cheer the Gaboon up, none of them realise that the musical mischief maker, Screature, is lurking in the shadows of the orchestra.
Screature holds the key to the Gaboon’s mood and it's only with the help of the All-Knowing Umpet, a wise and kindly creature, that the friends can solve the mystery of the Gaboon’s grumps.
Join the Grumpy Gaboon and friends on this fun, musical adventure as together they discover the importance of friendship and forgiveness.
Please note: This concert is not part of the SCO Multibuy ticket offer.
*Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
BSL INTERPRETED
Illustration: Corrina Campbell
BACH
Brandenburg Concerto No.3
SCARLATTI arr CAPPERAULD
Stylus Scarlatti (World Premiere)*
HANDEL
Water Music Suite in F
BRITTEN
Simple Symphony
SCHNITTKE Gogol Suite
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor/harpsichord
Thu 19 Feb, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
Photo: Andy Catlin
Old and new, ancient and modern: Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev returns with an annual highlight of the SCO Season, rediscovering the musical splendours of the Baroque alongside more recent composers who have drawn inspiration from it.
Bach’s Third Brandenburg Concerto dazzles with brilliant invention and rhythmic drive, while Handel set out to impress no less a figure than King George I with the joyful fanfares and elegant dances of his lavish Water Music.
Closer to our own times, Britten reworked childhood tunes and Baroque dances in his charming miniature Symphony, while SCO Associate Composer Jay Capperauld unveils a brand-new piece that reimagines Scarlatti keyboard sonatas for the bright colours of an orchestra. To close, Alfred Schnittke’s wild, outrageous Gogol Suite half-quotes Bach, Haydn, Beethoven and more to outrageous effect – it simply has to be heard to be believed.
*Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
SCHUMANN
Piano Quartet in E-flat, Op.47
Piano Quintet in E-flat, Op.44
Maxim Emelyanychev piano
Stephanie Gonley violin
Marcus Barcham Stevens violin
Max Mandel viola
Philip Higham cello
Experience the exceptional artistry of SCO Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev in his other great musical passion: chamber music. As well as an effervescent conductor, Maxim is an accomplished keyboard soloist: join him and his friends and colleagues from the Orchestra in two very different but equally heartfelt works by Robert Schumann, written within just weeks of each other.
Schumann’s richly Romantic Piano Quartet offers warmth, depth and uplifting lyricism. His Piano Quintet, by contrast, is music that can barely contain its exuberant joy and vitality, conceived on an almost symphonic scale.
Sun 22 Feb, 3pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £21
BRAHMS
Academic Festival Overture
MENDELSSOHN
Violin Concerto
BRAHMS Symphony No.4
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
Nicola Benedetti violin
Nicola Benedetti has performed Mendelssohn’s exhilarating Violin Concerto for many years. Bringing together sublime lyrical beauty and fizzing violin fireworks, the Concerto is the ideal showcase for the world-renowned Scottish violin virtuoso’s consummate talents. Discover Benedetti’s compelling, profoundly beautiful vision of the piece in the company of her long-time musical collaborators: the SCO’s exceptional musicians and conductor Maxim Emelyanychev.
With its boundless fun and catchy tunes, Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture transports you to the heart of boisterous, joyful student life. Maxim closes this concert of Romantic riches with Brahms’ final symphony: its sonic grandeur and emotional depth can’t fail to inspire and move all who hear it.
Thu 26 Feb, 7.30pm
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
ROSSINI
Overture, The Barber of Seville
BEETHOVEN
Concert Aria: Ah, perfido!
BRITTEN
Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No.8
Lorenza Borrani director/violin
Robin Johannsen soprano
Italian-born Lorenza Borrani is fast becoming one of the SCO’s closest friends and collaborators. She returns for her second concert this Season with an evening of wit, humour and magical evocations.
With its dashing melodies and its musical pranks, the Eighth is Beethoven’s sunniest, happiest Symphony – and the ideal match for Borrani’s vivacious style. She contrasts it with the high emotions and deep drama of the composer’s miniature opera scene ‘Ah, perfido!’.
There’s more humour in Rossini’s boisterous Barber of Seville Overture, and Britten conjures exquisite musical visions in his enchanting tribute to his beloved teacher.
Thu 5 Mar, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
ANNA CLYNE
Sound and Fury †
DANI HOWARD
Saxophone Concerto*
GEORGE WALKER
Lyric for Strings
CAROLINE SHAW
Entr’acte
DAVE HEATH
The Celtic*
JOHN HARLE
Rant!*
Ben Glassberg conductor
Jess Gillam saxophones*
An inspiring fixture on radio and TV, Cumbrianborn Jess Gillam is first and foremost a world-class saxophonist. She brings her invigorating musical personality to a typically adventurous collection of music across diverse styles and sounds for the last of our New Dimensions concerts.
Young British composer Dani Howard wrote her effervescent new Saxophone Concerto specially for Gillam, while Dave Heath throws you into the whirling energy of a raucous ceilidh in his galvanising concerto The Celtic.
Haydn provides the calmer inspiration for Anna Clyne’s scintillating Sound and Fury, written for the SCO in 2019, and also for Caroline Shaw’s mercurial Entr’acte. The great African American composer George Walker, meanwhile, regularly moves listeners to tears with his striking Lyric for Strings.
Thu 12 Mar, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £30
Photo: Robin Clewley
†Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No.7
interspersed with folk tunes played by Dreamers’ Circus and Pekka Kuusisto
Pekka Kuusisto director/violin
Dreamers’ Circus:
Ale Carr cittern
Nikolaj Busk piano/accordion
Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen violin
Thu 19 Mar, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
Classical and folk join forces for a thrilling celebration of dance, in this joyfully unconventional programme masterminded and conducted by much-loved Finnish violin pioneer Pekka Kuusisto.
Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony dances its way from start to blazing finish, propelled along by driving rhythms, and brimming over with energy, passion and bounding positivity.
Kuusisto intersperses the Symphony’s four movements with a specially curated collection of folk tunes that he plays with his friends and colleagues in Danish/Swedish trio Dreamers’ Circus, injecting a distinctively 21st-century freshness into trad music from across Europe.
Pekka Kuusisto Visiting Artist Chair kindly supported by The Honorary Consulate of Finland, Edinburgh and Glasgow
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Serenade to Music
ELGAR
Serenade
BUTTERWORTH arr WILLIAMS
Six Songs from ‘A Shropshire Lad’
HAYDN
‘The Representation of Chaos’ from The Creation
CAPPERAULD
The Language of Eden (World Premiere)*
Andrew Manze conductor
Roderick Williams baritone
SCO Chorus
Gregory Batsleer chorus director
From poignant pastoral visions to stirring choral majesty: SCO Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze conducts an evening of rapturous English music and striking new sounds, in the company of exceptional British baritone and composer Roderick Williams and the fine voices of the SCO Chorus.
Williams sings in his own orchestral arrangements of Butterworth’s bittersweet A Shropshire Lad, in which nostalgia for the English countryside mingles heartbreakingly with premonitions of coming war. Vaughan Williams, meanwhile, summons visionary wonder to celebrate the power of music itself in his radiant Serenade while the young Elgar unleashes passion and lyricism in his playful Serenade for Strings.
Thu 26 Mar, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
Photo: Chris Christodoulou
After Haydn’s startling ‘Representation of Chaos’, Roderick Williams is also the soloist in a brand-new choral work by Jay Capperauld, with libretto by Niall Campbell, that reimagines the birth of language itself, The Language of Eden
*Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
KAPRALOVA
Suite en Miniature Op.1
MARTINŮ
Violin Concerto No.2
MARTINŮ
La revue de cuisine
DVOŘÁK
Czech Suite
Jonian Ilias-Kadesha director/violin
No thunderbolts and lightning, maybe, but plenty of kaleidoscopic colour, whirling rhythms and strong flavours as flamboyant Greek-Albanian violinist Jonian Ilias-Kadesha directs a concert dedicated to the gutsy glories of Czech music.
Dvořák takes your hand for a set of exhilarating dances from his Bohemian homeland, while Martinů whisks you away for exotic travels in his ravishingly beautiful, deeply romantic Second Violin Concerto. Sample absurdist comedy in Martinů’s surrealist La revue de cuisine – a jazz-flavoured love story for everyday kitchen utensils. To begin, an exquisite, evocative Suite from lost Czech voice Vítezslava Kaprálová, who died aged just 25.
Thu 16 Apr, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
COUPERIN arr ADÈS
Les barricades mystérieuses
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Suite for Viola and Small
Orchestra (Selection)
TIPPETT
Fantasia on a Theme of Corelli
RAMEAU
Les Sauvages
LINDBERG
Viola Concerto (Scottish Premiere)
Lawrence Power director/viola
Kaleidoscopic hues and big emotions sit side by side in this vibrant concert weaving together the Baroque era and the present day, directed by outstanding British viola player Lawrence Power.
After two catchy tunes by Baroque masters Couperin and Rameau – the first in a witty arrangement by contemporary British composer Thomas Adès – Tippett spins visionary tendrils of sound in his rapturous Corelli-inspired Fantasia, while Vaughan Williams saved some of his most memorably melodic music for his rarely-heard Suite.
Power himself is the dedicatee of the Viola Concerto by Finnish powerhouse composer Magnus Lindberg: expect scintillating soundscapes and perfumed harmonies in this deeply charismatic music.
Thu 23 Apr, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43 Photo: Jack Liebeck
HAYDN Paukenmesse (Mass in Time of War)
MOZART Requiem
Riccardo Minasi conductor
Louise Alder soprano
Hanna Hipp mezzo soprano
Julien Henric tenor
Daniel Okulitch bass baritone
SCO Chorus
Gregory Batsleer chorus director
From its request by a dark stranger to its gruelling creation on the composer’s deathbed, Mozart’s Requiem is a piece haunted by mysteries. It’s also an awe-inspiring contemplation of life’s profoundest questions, conveyed through music of enormous courage and compassion, beauty and power.
Charismatic interpreter of 18th century music, Riccardo Minasi is joined by the excellent SCO Chorus and a brilliant line-up of vocal soloists.
Another ambitious piece launches this concert of choral splendours. Haydn’s ‘Mass in Time of War’ is a joyful and deeply expressive celebration of peace, first heard when Austria feared invasion by Napoleon’s armies.
Thu 30 Apr, 7.30pm
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
MENDELSSOHN
Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage
SCHUMANN
Cello Concerto*
WIDMANN
Albumblätter (UK Premiere)*
DEBUSSY
Petite Suite
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
Philip Higham cello*
From a daring maritime adventure to a captivating showcase for the soulful cello – in the company of vibrant Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev and exceptional SCO Principal Cello Philip Higham.
An international soloist as well as a pivotal SCO musician, Philip Higham takes centre-stage for the poetry and passion of Schumann’s entrancing Cello Concerto, written in a two-week burst of inspiration.
German composer Jörg Widmann pays affectionate homage to Schumann in his witty Albumblätter, receiving its first UK performance, while Debussy takes us dancing and sailing in his charming Petite Suite. Mendelssohn weighs the anchor for more distant shores, however, in his thrilling celebration of seafaring heroism.
Thu 7 May, 7.30pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
Photo: Christopher Bowen
SHOSTAKOVICH
Symphony No.9
SHOSTAKOVICH
Piano Concerto No.1
DVOŘÁK
Symphony No.9
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
Steven Osborne piano
Aaron Akugbo trumpet
Thu 14 May, 7.30pm
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Tickets £15 – £43
Join Maxim and the SCO musicians for an electrifying and emotional conclusion to the Season – with one of the most cherished symphonies of them all.
While teaching in New York, Antonín Dvořák was influenced by traditional American tunes to conjure the grandeur and epic vision of his ‘New World’ Symphony, an inspiring celebration of new discoveries and new possibilities.
Just as joyfully, Maxim is joined by exceptional Scottish musicians Steven Osborne and Aaron Akugbo for the wild switchback ride of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.1, a dazzling mix of virtuoso keyboard fireworks and boisterous trumpet tunes blending razor-sharp humour and moving pathos. We start, though, with Shostakovich’s brightest, happiest, and most optimistic Symphony.
Kindly supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart
“For me I want to tell a story, communicate, move people and make them feel things”
Wherever you are in the world, experience the joy and passion of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in three thrilling performances, captured in a trio of specially commissioned films recorded in Edinburgh’s atmospheric Leith Theatre. Get up close to the SCO’s exceptional musicians as they perform three enthralling pieces by SCO Associate Composer, Jay Capperauld.
Hailed as one of Scotland’s most distinctive and original musical voices, Capperauld creates works that teem with energy and ideas, with profound emotions and mischievous wit. His music sets out to challenge and provoke – sometimes posing fundamental questions about life and death – but also to inspire and entertain.
Experience three new Scottish masterpieces conceived and created specifically for the Orchestra, in definitive performances from the SCO and Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev, and the SCO Chorus and Chorus Director Gregory Batsleer.
Join the SCO’s global community to watch live as each film is premiered online, or catch up for a whole year after the first broadcast date.
Free to view
Co-presented by
Thu 16 Oct, 7.30pm
Capperauld’s kaleidoscopic, Calvino-inspired orchestral showpiece launched the SCO’s 50th Anniversary Season in style, imagining the first colours illuminating an otherwise monochrome world in music of vibrant energy and iridescent hues. Discover (or rediscover) this dazzling, delightful music in a thrilling performance by the SCO and Maxim Emelyanychev.
Supported by
Thu 12 Feb, 7.30pm
From the multicoloured to the macabre: Capperauld’s murky creation was inspired by the life-and-death obsessions of Austrian composer Anton Bruckner, who reputedly kissed the exhumed skulls of Beethoven and Schubert when the composers’ remains were transferred between Viennese cemeteries. Premiered last Season to enormous acclaim, this audacious creation dares to stare death directly in the face – experience its uncanny power in this performance from the SCO and Maxim Emelyanychev.
Supported by the Fidelio Charitable Trust and the Marchus Trust
Thu 2 Apr, 7.30pm
Capperauld’s tender choral work is a meditation on parenthood and the love between father and child, a joyful, intimate setting of a poem by Scottish writer Niall Campbell. Immerse yourself in its jazz-inflected harmonies and radiant wonder in a performance by the SCO Chorus and Chorus Director Gregory Batsleer.
Each summer the SCO travels the length and breadth of Scotland, bringing wonderful music-making to audiences across the country.
Wed 11 June, 7.30pm SCO Wind Soloists in Concert Kames Village Hall
Thu 12 June, 7.30pm SCO Wind Soloists in Concert Kilmelford Village Hall
Thu 12 June, 7.30pm Summer Serenade Brechin Cathedral
Fri 13 June, 7.30pm SCO Wind Soloists in Concert Crianlarich Village Hall
Fri 13 June, 7.30pm Summer Serenade Fochabers Public Institute
Sat 14 June, 7.30pm SCO Wind Soloists in Concert Gartmore Village Hall
Sat 14 June, 7.30pm Summer Serenade Fortrose Academy Theatre
Thu 19 June, 7.30pm Schubert Symphony No.5 Badenoch Centre, Kingussie
Fri 20 June, 7.30pm Schubert Symphony No.5 Golspie High School
Sat 21 June, 7.30pm Schubert Symphony No.5 Universal Hall, Findhorn
Wed 25 June, 6.30pm East Neuk Festival The Bowhouse, St Monans
Thu 26 June, 8pm Schubert & Mozart Stirling Castle
Fri 27 June, 7.30pm Schubert & Mozart Queen’s Hall, Dunoon
Sat 28 June, 7.30pm Schubert & Mozart Town Hall, Hawick
Thu 17 July, 7.30pm Summer Classics Town House, Hamilton
Fri 18 July, 7.30pm Summer Classics Castle Douglas Town Hall
Sat 19 July, 7.30pm Summer Classics Ayr Town Hall
Sat 9 Aug, 7.30pm Edinburgh International Festival Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Wed 13-Sat 16 Aug Edinburgh International Festival Edinburgh Playhouse
Wed 27 Aug, 7.30pm Rossini & Schubert Airdrie Town Hall
Thu 28 Aug, 7.30pm Rossini & Schubert Blair Castle, Blair Atholl
Fri 29 Aug, 7.30pm Rossini & Schubert Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit sco.org.uk/summertour
Our popular Tea Dance Concerts go from strength to strength, visiting a number of Scottish venues across the 2025/26 Season.
Join SCO musicians for an afternoon of wonderful music and light refreshments in these lively performances where the programme and format are designed especially for people living with dementia.
We are delighted that young musicians from Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise communities will be joining us to perform as part of these concerts.
Wed 23 April 2025, 2pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Thu 24 April 2025, 2pm Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries
Wed 4 June 2025, 2pm Albert Halls, Stirling
Thu 5 June 2025, 2pm
Kirkintilloch Town Hall
Wed 8 April 2026, 2pm
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Thu 9 April 2026, 2pm
Maryhill Burgh Halls, Glasgow
Photo: Stuart Armitt
Tickets £6, carer goes free. Limited capacity – early booking advised.
For bookings, including wheelchair users and companion tickets, please contact the SCO directly on 0131 557 6800 or email boxoffice@sco.org.uk
Please note: These concerts are not part of the SCO Multibuy ticket offer.
Supported by J Macdonald Menzies Charitable Trust and Morton Charitable Trust
In association with
“It was great to experience a live orchestra performance and having someone explain the process of creating music was extremely interesting”
Teacher, Aberdeen 2024
“I had a great time at the concert! It was super interactive and just really fun overall. I loved how they used artwork along with the music—it made the whole experience feel more creative”
Student, Inverness 2024
Immerse is a unique orchestral experience for upper secondary music and art pupils that enables students to experience the excitement of a live orchestra in concert and explore the relationship between music and art.
Immerse 2025 features The Origin of Colour by SCO Associate Composer Jay Capperauld. Jay will introduce the programme himself and share how he created his exciting work. He will be joined by visual artist and musician Kirsty Matheson, who will present her own paintings inspired by The Origin of Colour and Beethoven’s Sixth symphony. Together, they will also discuss the phenomenon of synesthesia and how this has shaped both of their work.
Tue 2 Sep, 1pm Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries
Wed 3 Sep, 1pm Ayr Town Hall
Thu 4 Sep, 1pm Lanternhouse, Cumbernauld
Running time: approx 1 hour 15 minutes.
Please note: Immerse concerts are offered free to schools and seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
To book your school or class onto Immerse 2025 email boxoffice@sco.org.uk.
For information on travel bursaries email jasmine.munns@sco.org.uk or call 0131 557 6800
If you are a school teacher or music tutor, free tickets for school groups are available for selected concerts, along with open rehearsals throughout the season. For details on availability and how to book, visit sco.org.uk/schools-go-free or email boxoffice@sco.org.uk
Mon 31 Mar 2025, 10am & 11.30am Laidlaw Music Centre, St Andrews
Fri 25 Apr 2025, 10am & 11.30am Perth Theatre, Joan Knight Studio (nurseries only)
Sat 26 Apr 2025, 10am & 11.30am Perth Theatre, Joan Knight Studio Tickets
Adults £6 Under 18s go FREE
Big Ears, Little Ears is our relaxed concert series for children under the age of five and their grown-ups.
These interactive performances are playful, multi-sensory introductions to live orchestral music and enable our youngest music lovers to enjoy up-close and personal musical performances.
Join us for Big Ears, Little Ears – an enchanting, multisensory musical adventure for children under five and their families.
This is a BIG experience for LITTLE music fans to enjoy playful, interactive performances with a quartet of SCO musicians, perfect for introducing your children to the magic of live orchestral music!
Supported by
Please note:
These concerts are not part of the SCO Multibuy offer.
The SCO is committed to making live classical music accessible to the next generation, which is why all young music lovers under the age of 18 can experience our concerts free of charge*.
Whether it’s a family outing or an introduction to classical music, it is easier than ever to enjoy an inspiring live performance from a worldclass orchestra.
Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
*Please note: The Great Grumpy Gaboon and Dementia-friendly Concerts are not included in this offer.
Photo: Andy Catlin
A showcase of the SCO’s Craigmillar Residency
2025 marks the fourth year of the SCO’s five-year residency in the Craigmillar community, a project designed to enrich community life, foster a long-term culture of creativity and improve wellbeing through music and creative activities.
Throughout the last year we engaged over 2,000 people of all ages through schools and community projects, delivering two early-years and primary school initiatives, supporting musicmaking at Castlebrae High School, and running three community programmes.
We continued working across local primary schools to provide workshops focusing on entry-level music education and exposure to live music for primary and early years pupils.
We provided our Meet the Musicians programme, bringing small ensembles of professional musicians into school settings for interactive workshops.
At Castlebrae High School, we continued to develop our singing for wellbeing programme, Castlebrae Voices, a popular new school choir.
In partnership with Craigmillar Now, Seen & Heard offered creative workshops for adults, featuring Associate Composer Jay Capperauld, Visual Artist Karolina Glusiec, and SCO musicians Su-a Lee and Jamie Kenny.
Craigmillar Voices nurtured the creation of a self-sustaining community choir under the guidance of workshop leader Moira Morrison, drawing inspiration from local songs and histories. And our ReConnect programme continued in collaboration with Caring in Craigmillar.
On top of our project offerings, we have enjoyed inviting project participants to a number of concerts and open rehearsals – gaining unique insight into the preparation and performance process.
Sun 29 Mar 2026, 3pm
The Queen's Hall Edinburgh
Tickets £5
Join us for the SCO’s end of residency celebration, Tapestry, a vibrant showcase of the Craigmillar community’s creativity and heritage.
This unique concert celebrates five transformative years of collaboration and will feature a stunning 25-minute through-composed piece curated by Jay Capperauld.
Blending Craigmillar’s iconic songs with original works by the SCO Seen and Heard Ensemble and SCO Craigmillar Voices group, the music will be accompanied by an evocative projection by Karolina Glusiec, weaving together archival treasures and new artistic creations.
Experience the rich tapestry of Craigmillar’s arts legacy brought to life by the SCO and the inspiring community that shaped it.
Please note: This concert is not part of the SCO Multibuy ticket offer. Craigmillar community tickets are available through community partners and outlets.
As one of Scotland’s national performing companies, the SCO plays a major role in Scotland’s musical life. We are also very proud cultural ambassadors with an international reputation for world-class performance.
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
Vilde Frang violin
Wed 21 May
Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam
Fri 23 May
Polish Baltic Philharmonic Hall, Gdansk
Sat 31 May
Tonhalle, Zürich
To support our International Touring, please contact Mary on 0131 478 8369 or email mary.clayton@sco.org.uk
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor°
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor/piano*
Colin Currie percussion°
Robert Jordan bagpipes†
Fri 19 Sep
Romanian Athenaeum, Bucharest (Enescu Festival)°
Sun 21 Sep
State Philharmonic, Thalia Hall, Sibiu (Enescu Festival)°
Tue 23 Sep
Filharmonie, Brn (Brno International Music Festival)* †
Thu 25 Sep
Bozar, Brussels°
Fri 26 Sep
Opera House, Bonn (Beethovenfest)°
Sun 28 Sep
Philharmonie, Essen°
Each year, the SCO must fundraise around £1.2 million to bring extraordinary musical performances to the stage and support groundbreaking education and community initiatives beyond it.
If you share our passion for transforming lives through the power of music and want to be part of our ongoing success, we invite you to join our community of regular donors. Your support, no matter the size, has a profound impact on our work – and as a donor, you’ll enjoy an even closer connection to the Orchestra.
To learn more and support the SCO from as little as £5 per month, please contact Hannah at hannah.wilkinson@sco.org.uk or call 0131 478 8364
“If you reach one person in the audience, that makes years of work worth it”
Supporting the Scottish Chamber Orchestra through leaving a gift in your Will is one of the most meaningful ways to help secure our future.
Legacies empower us to plan with confidence, ensuring the SCO can continue to deliver exceptional musical experiences that enrich lives and strengthen communities across Scotland and beyond. Every gift, no matter its size, plays a crucial role in sustaining this mission.
Our former Conductor Laureate, Sir Charles Mackerras, exemplified such extraordinary generosity by pledging the royalties from his SCO recordings to the Orchestra in perpetuity. In honour of his legacy, and to celebrate and thank those who include the SCO in their legacy plans, we established The Sir Charles Mackerras Circle.
Members of the Circle enjoy exclusive benefits, including an invitation to an annual behind-the-scenes event, where you can see firsthand how your support is bringing live music to life and making it accessible to a diverse range of audiences.
Together, we can ensure the gift of music resonates for generations to come. To learn more about joining The Sir Charles Mackerras Circle, please contact Mary at mary.clayton@sco.org.uk or call 0131 478 8369
Joining the Principal Conductor’s Circle offers an unparalleled opportunity to deepen your connection with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. As a member, you’ll enjoy unique insights into the Orchestra’s daily life and build meaningful relationships with our musicians.
Circle members can choose to support areas that resonate most with them — whether it’s sponsoring a musician’s chair, funding tours and visiting artists, commissioning new music, or contributing to our essential education and community work.
In gratitude for this vital support, members enjoy exclusive benefits, including opportunities to meet SCO musicians and visiting artists, attend private recitals, dinners, and receptions, and experience behind-the-scenes access throughout the season.
Principal Conductor’s Circle Membership starts at £5,000 per year.
To learn more, please contact Martin at martin.lawlor@sco.org.uk or call 0131 478 8344.
Booking Multibuy tickets
For more information on how to book a Multibuy Package turn to page 11.
Booking individual tickets
If you wish to book fewer than four concerts, tickets will be available from the venue box offices from Monday 19 May 2025.
Ticket prices and booking fees vary from venue to venue – visit sco.org.uk/FAQ for further details.
Edinburgh Venue Box Offices
The Queen’s Hall thequeenshall.net 0131 668 2019
Usher Hall usherhall.co.uk 0131 228 1155
Greyfriars Kirk via sco.org.uk 0131 557 6800
Assembly Rooms via sco.org.uk 0131 557 6800
For other venue box office contact details visit sco.org.uk/FAQ.
18 and under*
Anyone under the age of 18 can attend most SCO concerts for free. Under 16s must, however, be accompanied by a paying adult. Free Under 18 tickets are not available for The Great Grumpy Gaboon and Dementia-friendly concerts.
19-26 year olds, full-time students and people in receipt of Universal Credit* £6 for all concerts except The Great Grumpy Gaboon and Dementia-friendly concerts.
People with a disability*
50% off full price tickets for people registered disabled. Essential carer tickets are free of charge.
Group booking discounts
Groups of six or more booking together save 20% off full price tickets. Groups of 20 can also claim one complimentary ticket for the group organiser. Available from Monday 19 May, from the venue box offices. Group discounts are not available for The Great Grumpy Gaboon and Dementia-friendly concerts.
School Group bookings
We have a limited number of free tickets available for certain concerts throughout the season for school groups (see page 59). Please contact boxoffice@sco.org.uk to enquire about availability.
Booking fees and refund policy
A booking fee of £2 is applicable to all Multibuy package bookings made via the SCO. Booking fees vary via venues. All discounts are subject to availability. We regret that tickets are non-refundable.
Every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct at the time of going to print. The SCO reserves the right to change dates, artists or programmes if necessary.
SCO Donors and current ticket buyers receive regular news by email and post. More information on how we process data can be found within the Privacy Statement on our website, at sco.org.uk/privacy-statement.
Group and school bookings must be confirmed no later than four weeks before the concert date.
*Proof of eligibility may be required.
Usher Hall Concerts
Circle
The Queen's Hall Concerts (except 6 Nov 2025, 11 Dec 2025, 22 Feb 2026, 12 March 2026)
The Queen's Hall – New Dimensions Series (6 Nov 2025, 11 Dec 2025, 12 March 2026) Stalls
HM The King
Patron
Donald MacDonald CBE
Life President
Joanna Baker CBE
Chair
Gavin Reid LVO
Chief Executive
Maxim Emelyanychev
Principal Conductor
Andrew Manze
Principal Guest Conductor
Joseph Swensen
Conductor Emeritus
Gregory Batsleer
Chorus Director
Jay Capperauld
Associate Composer
Principal Conductor’s Circle
Geoff and Mary Ball
Ken Barker and Martha Vail Barker
Ronald and Stella Bowie
Sir Ewan and Lady Brown
Colin and Sue Buchan
Bill and Celia Carman
James and Patricia Cook
Jo and Alison Elliot
Gavin and Kate Gemmell
Caroline Hahn and Richard Neville-Towle
Erik Lars Hansen and Vanessa C L Chang
J Douglas Home
Christine Lessels
Professor Sue Lightman
Donald and Louise MacDonald
Eriadne and George Mackintosh
Jasmine Macquaker Charitable Fund
Anne McFarlane
Harry and Carol Nimmo
Stuart and Alison Paul
Anne and Matthew Richards
Claire and Anthony Tait
The Thomas Family
Sabine and Brian Thomson
Claire and Mark Urquhart
Anne, Tom and Natalie Usher
Anny and Bobby White
Hedley Gordon Wright Charitable Trust
4 Royal Terrace Edinburgh EH7 5AB +44 (0)131 557 6800 sco.org.uk
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is a charity registered in Scotland No. SC015039. Company registration No. SC075079
Every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct at the time of going to print. The SCO reserves the right to change dates, artists or programmes if necessary.