Stirling Concert Tour Report – June 2025

At Aberdeen City Music School, it is central to our mission to share the exceptional work of our pupils with communities across Scotland. Following the success of our recent tour to Braemar, which helped strengthen our connections with the local region, we took a significant step forward this June with a three-day concert tour to Stirling, reaching audiences in and around the central belt.

Over the course of the weekend, our pupils performed ten concerts in a variety of venues across Stirling. They showcased a wide range of musical genres and instrumental combinations. Each programme was drawn from our most successful repertoire of the academic year, and every pupil, including our youngest S1s, was given a solo opportunity in a memorable and inspiring venue.

We were delighted to be hosted by the University of Stirling. The accommodation at Alexander Court and the excellent catering helped provide a comfortable and enjoyable base for the busy weekend.

The tour began on Friday evening with a jazz and pop concert in the Crush Hall of the Pathfoot Building. It proved to be a vibrant and welcoming venue for our opening performance.

On Saturday, we delivered a series of concerts every hour on the hour within the magnificent surroundings of Stirling Castle. These included solo recitals in the King’s Outer Hall, a vocal recital in the Chapel Royal, piping in the Queen Anne Gardens, and a chamber music programme. The castle performances ended with a traditional music concert led by tutor John Bone. This lively and uplifting performance was met with cheers from a packed audience and provided a memorable conclusion to the day.

We are very grateful to Ross Blevins, Operations Manager at Stirling Castle, for his warm hospitality and outstanding support. His team were equally welcoming, assisting with logistics, chatting with pupils, and offering interesting insights about the castle. Performing in such an iconic venue during the summer season was a rare privilege. It was also a testament to the pupils’ professionalism and high standard of preparation that we were so well received by staff and visitors alike.

After a short break, we moved to the Church of the Holy Rude, situated just beside the castle, for our evening gala concert. We were supported throughout by the church staff, as well as by Tracy McIntosh and Isabel Stewart from Stirling District Tourism. Their help in promoting the event and looking after us on the day was invaluable. We were especially pleased to welcome Mark Evans, Director of Music at Douglas Academy, who attended the concert and has long been a supporter of ACMS.

On Sunday morning, we packed our belongings and travelled to Bridge of Allan Parish Church. There, our pupils collaborated with the church choir to perform three pieces during the morning service. Several pupils also performed solo works before the service and during communion. It was particularly rewarding to hear from members of the congregation who had attended earlier concerts and took time to speak to the pupils individually, offering kind words of encouragement and praise.

We are especially grateful to Reverend Dan Harper, Minister of Bridge of Allan Parish Church, for his generous welcome and his support in helping us feel so connected to the local community. We ended the morning with lunch in the church hall, accompanied by a relaxed jazz session and conversations with members of the congregation over tea and coffee.

This tour was not only a musical highlight but also an important opportunity for pupils to develop skills in teamwork, resilience, adaptability and mutual support. Whether they were helping with concert logistics, adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings or supporting one another on stage, the pupils conducted themselves with maturity and care.

I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Elaine Donati, Annette Smith and Katie Arthur. Each of them gave up their weekend and worked tirelessly to ensure the tour ran as smoothly as it did. Their dedication to the pupils and to the success of the trip was exceptional.

Thanks also go to the staff of Dyce Academy for their continued support, to our colleagues in boarding for helping pupils prepare so well, and to our families and friends who continue to support everything we do.

The Stirling tour has been a truly special experience for everyone involved. It is an unforgettable addition to each pupil’s performance portfolio, and a shining example of what can be achieved when musical excellence, community spirit and hard work come together.