2007

"The entire event was a splendid experience, both entertaining and enlightening." <full article> 26 November 2007 Pete Stollery: scènes, rendez-vous

"this is a repertoire which knows no bounds and we must thank Richard Craig and sound for this brief insight into some of its secrets" <full article> 24 November 2007 Richard Craig, flute

"an inspiring programme of contemporary vocal music" <full article> University Music 22 November 2007 Every night and every morn A recital of contemporary song

"extra chairs had to be brought in to accommodate the large audience that turned up" <full article> University Music 22 November 2007 Altering Images, presented and diffused by Pete Stollery

"every one of the pieces in the programme was receiving either its UK or its Scottish premiere; just what sound is all about" <full article> University Music 21 November 2007 Richard Craig, flute, and John Croft, electronics

"the unlikely blend of trombone and quartet really jelled" <full article> The Herald 20 November 2007 John Kenny and the Edinburgh Quartet, Woodend Barn Arts Centre, Banchory

"Roger Williams brought it to life with generous helpings of verve and dexterity" <full article> University Music 20 November 2007 A recital of contemporary organ music

"negotiating a finely drawn line between the grittiness of modern musical language and a softer more nostalgic style" <full article> The Herald 14 November 2007 Bingham Quartet, Woodend Barn, Banchory

"never before have my ears experienced such a seemingly limitless palette of amazing sounds, some terrifying, some very beautiful indeed" <full article> University Music 13 November 2007 sound at the Institute of Medical Sciences John Kenny, trombones & carnyx

"the sheer quality of their playing still stood out; refined, perfectly focused and wonderfully delicate" <full article> Aberdeen Chamber Music Club 12 November 2007 Sacconi String Quartet, with David Campbell, clarinet

"time itself was made to relax into stasis" <full article> The Herald 7 November 2007 Sound Festival: Rohan de Saram and Noriko Kawai, Woodend barn Arts Centre, Banchory

"Aberdeen's contemporary music-curious audiences have been sidling out from their granite townhouses to their very own musical field of dreams" <full article> Scotland on Sunday 4 November 2007 Through the sound barrier

"another unique opportunity to take a mind expanding journey into the astonishing world of electro-acoustic music" <full article> University Music 1 November 2007 Musique de L’IMEB Presented by Françoise Barrière & Pete Stollery

"What a wonderful exposition of the contemporary possibilities of the classical guitar." <full article> University Music 31 October 2007 Simon Thacker: The Alternative Guitar

"World-renowned percussionist Evelyn Glennie played to a packed audience in Aberdeen at the week-end" <full article> Press and Journal 29 October 2007 Top musician hits right notes for Aberdeen audience

"... featuring 67 concerts in 26 venues across the north- east of Scotland in late October and throughout November, it might appear that Scotland's youngest festival is coming of age." <full article> The Herald 5 September 2007 A northern network in sweet harmony

"This year's festival..." <full details> press release 7 September 2007 North East Scotland's festival of new music

 

2006

"de Saram made the cello sound like a whole orchestra" <full article> The Herald 27 November 2006 Rohan de Saram, Woodend Barn, Banchory

"Fitkin marshalled his forces like a most talented general". <full article> The Herald 21 November 2006 Extremities

"Audiences at the Music Hall in Aberdeen witnessed a technical triumph last night as 160 north-east musicians played in harmony". <full article> Press and Journal 20 November 2006 Extremities

"a fiery, passionate and nearly faultless performance" <full article> The Herald 16 November 2006 Aberdeen Sinfonietta, Music Hall, Aberdeen

"Aberdeen's own symphony orchestra celebrated their 20th anniversary with a cracking programme". <full article> The Evening Express 16 November 2006 Orchestra's ship-shape birthday performance!

"Its surging rhythms and contrasting warm and cold harmonies reflected the capriciousness of the Scottish climate". <full article> The Herald 14 November 2006 sound festival, various venues, Aberdeen

"Is this a new movement in music? Someone suggested calling it "the new playfulness". <full article> The Herald 10 November 2006 Symposia, MacRobert Building, Aberdeen

"a sizzling performance" <full article> The Herald 7 November 2006 Hebrides Ensemble, Woodend Barn, Banchory

"Miss Galante's concert kick-starts a three-week programme of shows by international and local artists as this year's sound festival gets under way" <full article> Press and Journal 4 November 2006

"the sound festival is already established as an impressive and important strand in Scotland's musical calendar. It is developing real muscle and growing sharp teeth" <full article> The Herald 28 October 2006

 

2005

"The brilliantly organised sound Festival in the north east (which must be encouraged to develop) is more of a network than a patchwork. But it gives the sense of a core operation which, since the demise of Musica Nova, Scotland has badly lacked." <full article> The Herald 26 November 2005 Even a patchwork is better than no work

"Something remarkable is happening in the northeast of Scotland" <full article> The Herald 9 November 2005 One sound investment Evelyn Glennie, Sally Beamish, James MacMillan, the SSO ... an amazing programme marks the launch of a new, inspirational festival.

"one of the most daring musical initiatives to hit the North-East, if not all of Scotland, in recent years" <full article> The Scotsman 31 October 2005 Birth of musical miracle from a lowly Aberdeenshire cattleshed

"a festival was assembled that stretched throughout the region and was impressively more than the sum of its parts." <full article> The Herald 3 December 2005 Rule No 1: never put down your viola

"a stunningly imaginative idea..." <full review> The Herald 29 November 2005 A Day with James MacMillan, Elphinstone Hall, Aberdeen

"Extrovert, energetic playing..." <full review> The Herald 29 November 2005 Glasgow String Quartet, Monymusk Arts Trust

"A spellbinding and vivid evocation..." <full review> The Herald 28 November 2005 BBC SSO with Evelyn Glennie, Music Hall, Aberdeen

"The high quality and the huge number of young musicians taking part were surely a heartening sign for the future of music in the north-east..." <full review> The Herald 22 November 2005 New Voices in Music, Marischal College, Aberdeen