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Dear All,
It has been another busy and productive week at ACMS. On Monday evening we ran through Act I of the March Concert programme, followed by Act II on Tuesday evening. These rehearsals are incredibly valuable, as they allow us to identify the final details that need attention in the last few days before the concert. It has been particularly encouraging to see how our pupils are rising to the challenge as the event approaches. The sense of focus and teamwork around the building is growing by the day, and it is exciting to watch the programme take shape.
As always, there are lots of things happening in and around the school. Here's a little look.....
Fyvie Castle
Last weekend a group of ACMS pupils had the pleasure of performing at Fyvie Castle, providing music for visitors to the historic house. The programme ranged widely across styles, from Baroque and classical repertoire through to traditional Scottish music, including performances on clarsach and bagpipes.
We were delighted to receive some wonderful feedback including praise for the pupils’ “sheer professionalism.” Experiences such as this are incredibly valuable for our young musicians, allowing them to share their music in beautiful and varied settings.
Our sincere thanks go to Ms McClintock for organising the visit and supporting the pupils throughout the day, and to the team at Fyvie Castle for such a warm welcome. We very much hope this will be the beginning of an ongoing relationship.
Inverness Music Festival
A good number of ACMS pupils are competing at the Inverness Music Festival this week and next. The school has long-standing connections with the festival, and it is wonderful to see so many pupils continuing that tradition by travelling north to take part.
The first news reaching us has been very positive, with Alexis and Sophie already enjoying success. We wish them, and all of our pupils competing, the very best of luck and, most importantly, a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Please do continue to send through photographs and updates. It is a pleasure to share these moments in The Shout and on our Instagram page.
Music Exams
We wish the very best of luck to our ACMS pupils who will be taking their National 5 and Higher Music practical examinations early next week.
The Academic Music department has been working closely with pupils in preparation, and these assessments provide a valuable opportunity to perform to a high standard within the familiar environment of the school.
Our thanks, as always, go to our instrumental tutors for their continued support, and particular thanks to Mrs Kirkwood and Mrs Dawson for their tremendous work in preparing pupils for these examinations.
March Concert – Ticket Returns
There are now very few tickets remaining for the March Concert at the Music Hall on Saturday 14 March. If anyone finds that they are unable to attend, we would be extremely grateful if tickets could be returned to the Music Hall box office so that others may have the opportunity to come along.
It is always gratifying to see such enthusiasm and support for our pupils.
Looking Ahead
Dress Rehearsal – Monday
Dress Rehearsal – Monday
On Monday afternoon and evening we will hold our full dress rehearsal in the MPA.
This rehearsal is slightly unusual. Once the run begins, there will be no staff input. Any memory lapses, unexpected moments, or stage challenges will need to be resolved by the pupils themselves in real time. This is a vital part of preparing for the live performance and helps build the confidence and independence that makes the March Concert so special.
As many of you know, the pupils introduce the concert themselves, manage the staging, and take responsibility for the flow of the evening. Monday will be their first opportunity to experience the programme running in full under those conditions.
We are also delighted that our bursary pupils will be joining us for the finale item. At the end of the rehearsal we will hold a full notes session followed by a short rehearsal of the finale while everyone is together.
Although it is called a dress rehearsal, ACMS pupils are asked not to wear ACMS shirts on Monday evening, as these will be needed for Tuesday’s performance at the Beach Ballroom. Pupils are encouraged, however, to wear the shoes they plan to use for the concert, as this can be helpful in the final rehearsal setting.
Bursary pupils are kindly asked to attend wearing all black, so that they can experience performing in their concert attire.
The Beach Ballroom – Tuesday
On Tuesday evening we have a lovely opportunity to perform at the Beach Ballroom as part of a concert organised by the Music Service.
ACMS pupils will perform two individual items before joining the larger ensemble for the finale. It is a pleasure to collaborate with colleagues across the city in this way, and we are grateful for the invitation.
ACMS uniform should be worn by all pupils for this performance.
Concert Day Photographs
On the day of the March Concert itself, we will ask ACMS pupils to wear their ACMS shirts during parts of the daytime rehearsal. This will allow us to take some close-up action photographs on stage, something that is not possible during the performance itself.
Once pupils have had a few photographs taken, they are of course welcome to change into more relaxed clothing.
Scottish Young Musicians
We were recently delighted to learn that several of our pupils have qualified for the Scottish Young Musicians regional finals, which will take place in the Cowdray Hall on Monday 23 (juniors) and Tuesday 24 (seniors) March.
Reaching this stage is exciting, and a lovely bonus after considerable preparation. We wish all of our pupils involved the very best of luck as they continue working towards the finals.
NYOS Academy Aberdeen
Applications are now open for the NYOS Academy Aberdeen 2026, taking place on 17–18 July.
The course is open to musicians aged 8–14, and it offers an excellent opportunity to work with inspiring tutors and other young musicians.
Further information and the application form can be found here:
https://www.nyos.co.uk/nyos-academy-aberdeen-2026-application-form/
It is well worth exploring if you are within the age range.
Finally, we have spoken with the pupils about taking the coming days steadily where possible. The March Concert is always a long but immensely rewarding day, and arriving well rested makes all the difference.
A gentle weekend followed by a calm middle of the week will help everyone arrive on Saturday feeling ready to enjoy what promises to be a wonderful evening of music.
Warmest wishes,
KK
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