Join the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for a landmark celebration of five years of music-making in Craigmillar
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) marks the finale of its five-year Craigmillar Residency with Tapestry: a vibrant concert celebrating the people, stories and collaborations that have shaped this long-term creative partnership.
Presented at The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh on March 29 at 3pm, Tapestry will bring together community groups, SCO musicians and artistic partners in a programme honouring Craigmillar’s cultural heritage and the new work that has flourished across the SCO residency.
Since launching in 2021, the Craigmillar Residency has placed meaningful engagement at its core, reaching hundreds of participants through sustained programmes across classrooms, community spaces and care settings.
The first half of the Tapestry concert will showcase work emerging from the Craigmillar community, featuring performances by the SCO in Craigmillar project groups and Drake Music.
A fitting finale at The Queen’s Hall
A participant of Craigmillar Voices, an intergenerational choir and one of the project groups from the residency, said: “It’s going to be really magical to perform on a stage as big as that, it is just a fantastic finale to the residency.”
Performances in this first half will come from Craigmillar Voices, Castlebrae Voices (a collective singing group of young people) and the Seen and Heard ensemble (a cross-art form group blending music and visual art).
Su-a Lee, SCO Sub-Principal Cello, who has been working closely with the Seen and Heard ensemble, said: “I’m just so excited to gather everyone together, and showcase what everyone has been working on for all these years.”
Blending new work with original compositions
Digital Orchestra Edinburgh (a disabled-led orchestra delivered by Drake Music Scotland) will also feature a new work in the first half by composer and musician Rhona Smith.
At the heart of the second half is ‘Tapestry’ itself: a newly curated work led by SCO Associate Composer Jay Capperauld. The piece will bring together brand-new music created by community members, fresh arrangements and original compositions by Capperauld, as well as songs drawn from Craigmillar’s rich arts heritage including pieces connected with the historic Craigmillar Festival Society.
Jay Capperauld said: “It’s a real chance for us all to come together and say what it is we want to say about the Craigmillar residency.”
An innovative musical journey to celebrate Craigmillar
Visual artist Karolina Glusiec will provide an accompanying projection piece that blends archival photography with new artwork created throughout the residency.
Tapestry will be a living musical journey that reflects Craigmillar’s past, celebrates its present and looks confidently toward its future.
Tickets for Tapestry are available at sco.org.uk, where you can also learn more about each Craigmillar project involved in the concert. Standard tickets cost £5, £2.50 for those with a disability (free for an accompanying companion), and free to children (aged 18 and under).
For details about future SCO performances, please visit the What’s On section of the website.