sound is the North East of Scotland's contemporary music festival. Following a pilot event, "Upbeat" in 2004, the first festival was launched in November 2005. sound is now an annual event.

sound aims to make contemporary music more accessible to audiences of all ages and backgrounds by presenting an eclectic but very broad range of contemporary music - classical, traditional, popular, jazz, experimental - through a wide range of events including concerts, talks, electroacoustic installations, and workshops.

sound, an initiative of Woodend Arts Association in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen, operates largely as a network of local organisations. The 2007 network also includes Aberdeen Chamber Music Club, Aberdeen City Music School, Banchory Academy, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Belmont Picturehouse, Cappella Nova, Duff House, Gordonstoun School, Interesting Music Promotions, Inverurie Music, the Lemon Tree, Monymusk Arts Trust, the Music Hall, Newton Dee Community, North East of Scotland Music School, Peacock Visual Arts, Strathdee Music Club, Upper Deeside Music and Woodend Music Society.

sound gratefully acknowledges the support of the following: Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen Endowments Trust, Astor of Hever Trust, David Gordon Memorial Trust, D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, EventScotland Regional Events Programme, PRS Foundation, The Robertson Trust, RVW Trust, Scottish Arts Council, and Shell U.K. Limited and Wood Group.

Patron: Dame Evelyn Glennie