THE leading composer James MacMillan, who was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours, has unveiled the second programme for his own music festival in his home town.
Performances by two young musicians of the year, a new Cumnock Tryst Festival Chorus, a three-year collaboration with Drake Music Scotland and a residency by the Hebrides Ensemble are part of the programme for the event.
The festival, which will take place in Cumnock in East Ayrshire from October 1 to 4, will also see new work composed by Sir James and a composer from New Cumnock, Jay Capperauld.
Music will be performed in venues across the town and in Dumfries House during the festival.
The festival chorus, made up of singers from the town as well as the wider Ayrshire area, will rehearse in two intense weekends before the festival.
Sir James said that he remains surprised by his knighthood and is "shellshocked" by the honour.
He said: "After the wonderful experience of the inaugural festival last year I have been very excited about following up with a new set of concerts and events.
"Threads continuing in this year's festival include our exploration of brass music, which is so integral to the musical history of the area, and choral music."
The Cumnock Tryst was founded in 2014 - the festival's name was inspired by a piece of music James MacMillan wrote in the 1980s when he was still living in Ayrshire.
Last year 40 per cent of the audience for the event came from Cumnock and the composer said he felt that the area had embraced the festival, which he said will be an annual event.
Sir James said that the festival will retain its focus on drawing top class musicians and music to the area, as well as focussing on involving young people.
This year the festival will feature performances by two BBC Young Musicians of the year - pianist Martin James Bartlett and cellist Laura van der Heijden.
The 2015 Festival opens on 1 October with a concert by the Whitburn Band in the newly refurbished Cumnock Town Hall, which includes a performance of MacMillan's Canite Tuba conducted by the composer.
The Festival Club at the Dumfries Arms also returns with performances this year by pianist Fergus McCreadie - twice winner of the Young Scottish Jazz Musician Award for under 17s and finalist in this year's Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the year.
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