soundfestival 2025 was a joyful return to the breadth and ambition that define our festival, as we celebrated a programme spread across two long weekends, made possible by our gradual return to more stable post-COVID funding. This year’s festival embraced adventure in every sense: from deeply immersive installations and world premieres to community events, rural performances, children’s concerts and opportunities for audiences of all ages to participate directly in music-making.
True to our ethos, 2025 balanced the experimental and boundary-pushing with the welcoming and inclusive. Audiences were invited to listen to ice, explore sound through the world of beavers, and even rise early to experience music at dawn. It was a festival that encouraged curiosity, openness and discovery, offering something for every listener while never losing sight of our core commitment to new music.
Friends, Collaborators and International Connections
We were delighted to welcome back so many long-standing friends of sound. Our Associate Ensemble Red Note once again brought their exceptional artistry and energy to the festival, alongside composer Brian Irvine and Aberdeenshire’s own new music ensemble, Any Enemy. Their presence reminded us how strong and enduring our creative relationships have become, and how vital these partnerships are in shaping the identity of sound.
International collaboration remained a cornerstone of the festival. Through the Legato project, we were thrilled to work with French musicians, expanding our European partnerships and opening up new artistic dialogues. We also welcomed the Irish ensemble Stone Drawn Circles, whose distinctive approach and sonic imagination brought a powerful international perspective to the programme. A special highlight was the return of Danish accordion virtuoso Andreas Borregaard, whose performances once again demonstrated the expressive and virtuosic possibilities of his instrument.
World Premieres and New Voices
In 2025, soundfestival presented no fewer than 28 world premieres, a remarkable testament to our ongoing commitment to commissioning and supporting new work. Among these were two particularly significant milestones: the world premiere of Tansy Davies’ Lost Science and the premiere of Electra Perivolaris’ song cycle ISOLA. These works exemplified the artistic ambition and diversity at the heart of this year’s programme.
Supporting young and emerging composers remained central to our mission. Through our spotlight gigs and four dedicated development programmes, we provided platforms for new voices to be heard and nurtured. These included projects in collaboration with Red Note, Any Enemy, Con Anima Chamber Choir, and the Legato international partnership. Together, these initiatives demonstrated the power of mentorship, collaboration and creative exchange in shaping the future of contemporary music.
Music in Dialogue with Art and Place
One of the defining features of soundfestival 2025 was the way music interacted with visual art, installation and environment. Three contrasting installations formed the backdrop for a series of world premiere performances.
Electra Perivolaris’ ISOLA was presented within an exhibition of photographs of Greek and Scottish islands taken by her father, John Perivolaris, creating a deeply personal and atmospheric setting for her song cycle. Karen Power’s polar soundings, a multichannel installation built from specialised field recordings gathered during her decade-long visits to the Arctic and Antarctica, became the environment for her new work for violist Katherine Wren, immersing audiences in a fragile and haunting sonic landscape. Meanwhile, Dave Maric’s multimedia installation inspired by beavers provided the setting for his new work for piano and percussion, performed by 2025 RPS Young Artist Award winners GBSR Duo, blending sound, image and concept into a compelling whole.
Participation and Community at the Heart of the Festival
Participation is always at the heart of sound, and 2025 was no exception. Our Delia Derbyshire workshops gave young people the chance to explore electronic sound and follow in the footsteps of the pioneering Radiophonic Workshop. These sessions captured the spirit of play, experimentation and creativity that lies at the core of new music.
We also welcomed musicians of all backgrounds, ages and abilities to join the Totally Made Up Orchestra, a celebration of joyful chaos, spontaneous creation and collective music-making. Events like these remind us that new music is not only something to be listened to, but something to be shared, shaped and experienced together.
Looking Forward
soundfestival 2025 captured the adventurous spirit that defines our organisation: curiosity, collaboration, and a belief in the power of new music to surprise, challenge and connect people. From world premieres and international partnerships to installations, workshops and community events, this year’s festival showed the extraordinary range of ways in which contemporary music can engage with the world around us.
Thank you to everyone who took part, performed, composed, collaborated, volunteered, supported and listened. Whether you joined us for a single event or followed us across both weekends, your enthusiasm and openness made this festival truly special. We look forward to continuing this journey of discovery with you in the years ahead.
