As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations and our ambitious programme of 25 special concerts, we were delighted to visit the City of Edinburgh Music School for a wonderful day of music-making, collaboration and friendship.

Our string players took part in an inspiring workshop and masterclass with Professor Christopher Hoyle, Head of Strings at the Royal Northern College of Music, while pupils from both schools joined forces for an energetic choral workshop.

After a morning of focused rehearsals and note-learning, everyone enjoyed lunch together and the opportunity to make new friends. The hard work continued throughout the afternoon, alongside an extensive question-and-answer session with Professor Hoyle about conservatoire life, applications and auditions. His invaluable advice covered everything from choosing repertoire and writing personal statements to what to wear, say and ask at an audition.

The day concluded with a fantastic Twilight Concert featuring:

* Movements 1, 5 and 6 from Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite

* Palestrina’s Sicut cervus, performed by the combined choirs

* MacMillan’s Data est mihi omnis potestas, performed by the ACMS Vocal Ensemble

* Stanford’s The Blue Bird

* Wesley’s Lead Me, Lord

Our sincere thanks go to Director Tudor Morris, his team and the pupils of the City of Edinburgh Music School for their kindness, goodwill and generous hospitality. We could not have received a warmer welcome.

Congratulations to our pupils for their hard work, commitment and professionalism throughout the day, and an enormous thank you to all the staff who helped to make the trip possible.

This was the first collaborative visit of its kind between Aberdeen City Music School and the City of Edinburgh Music School, and we sincerely hope it will mark the beginning of many more shared musical experiences.

Thank you to everyone who made it such a memorable day.

We are looking forward to our second Specialist Weekend of the year, when we will have the opportunity to continue working on repertoire for our March Concert and begin learning our Christmas music.

This is always a slightly unusual Specialist Weekend, as Sunday begins with our ACMS Open Morning. Families will travel from near and far to see the Music School in action. The morning begins at 10.15 am with a concert-style presentation, followed by pupil-led tours of the school. It concludes with tea and coffee in the Staff Centre, where visiting families can speak with staff, pupils and parents and learn more about life at ACMS.

Rehearsals will continue during the afternoon before our vocalists travel to St Andrew’s Cathedral to rehearse and sing Evensong with the Cathedral Choir.

We are always warmly welcomed and wonderfully looked after by the Provost and choir of St Andrew’s Cathedral. If you have never attended Choral Evensong, it is a beautiful service lasting approximately 45 minutes and is well worth experiencing.

The vocalists of Aberdeen City Music School will take part in a special Michaelmas Choral Evensong at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Sunday 27 September at 6.30 pm. With Colin Stuart at the organ, the service will feature music by Stanford, Ayleward, Walmisley and Dering, alongside Psalm 148 and two much-loved hymns. The service will last approximately 45 minutes, admission is free, and everyone is warmly invited to attend.