THE leading percussionist Colin Currie is to hold a masterclass with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and St Mary's Music School later this month.

The event has been designed to " inspire musicians, teachers and percussion enthusiasts of all ages".

Currie will be coaching seven young percussionists.

Currie, who is a graduate of the Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Conservatoire Scotland, has premiered works by composers such as Sir James MacMillan, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Julia Wolfe, Steve Reich, Elliott Carter and Louis Andriessen.

He said: "I am delighted and honoured to be joining St Mary’s Music School and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to give a masterclass to the budding young percussionists currently making their way in Scotland.

"I had tremendous support, encouragement and mentorship from my time growing up in Edinburgh with the numerous local youth orchestras and my lessons in Glasgow, so I’m keen to offer something in return and in kind.

"Building a community and network between generations of players is very important and the chance to meet and work with a fresh intake excites me very much."

The masterclass takes place on 27 May at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Tickets are free but must be booked online.

www.stmarysmusicschool.co.uk

THE winners of the third annual Scottish Awards for New Music (SAFNM) have been announced.

The winners of the eleven categories Scottish Awards for New Music 2019 are: Garth Knox for new music performer, Red Note Ensemble for contribution to new music, Helen Grime, Woven Space for large scale new work, James Dillon's Quartet No.9 for small scale new work, abd Sean Shibe for recorded new work.

Ailie Robertson and the Grit Orchestra were joint winners of the innovation in new traditional music award, Pippa Murphy won the award for electroacoustic/sound art work, the Sound festival won the prize for creative programming, the Nevis Ensemble won the Making It Happen prize, the East Neuk Festival won the community/education project award and the award for collaboration in new music went to Simon Thacker’s Svara-Kanti.

Alan Morrison, head of music at Creative Scotland, commented: “The new music scene in Scotland is fearlessly open to a diversity of influences and ideas, as could be seen and heard right across the excellent list of nominees for this year’s awards. It’s really encouraging to see both emerging talents and leading lights among the winners, as well as festivals and performers who are dedicated to taking new music out of the central belt, to Fife, Aberdeenshire and beyond."

www.newmusicscotland.co.uk

THE Edinburgh Incidental Orchestra has announced a new programme of music by Igor Stravinsky, including international stars Sir Thomas Allen and John Sessions.

The orchestra, founded in 2009 as a post-student orchestra now works on a professional basis, employing young musicians from around Edinburgh and Scotland.

Conductor Calum Zuckert says of the new format: "We are committed to performing exciting, diverse programmes of music and reaching new and young audiences."

The programme will feature three works from different eras of Stravinsky’s compositional output, with L’histoire du soldat “The Soldier’s Tale” as the centrepiece.

Sir Thomas says of the work, ‘The Soldier's Tale is an opportunity to perform a work that is easily understood and at the same time lacks none of the complicated invention one associates with much of Stravinsky's work.

‘It’s a very approachable work, and exciting for me as I’ve never been involved in it before.’

For this piece, Sessions and Allen will perform alongside the young musicians of the EIO and Welsh actress Bethan Young.

The orchestra will perform the programme at the Church Hill Theatre in Edinburgh, next Saturday and Sunday, 18 and 19 May.

www.theeio.co.uk.