Happening at ACMS ...
Jazz at the Blue Lamp
Recital at St Andrew's Cathedral
A wonderful afternoon of music featuring Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Saint-Seans
Ellie Donald Masterclass
ACMS alumna Ellie Donald returned this Specialist Weekend to run a workshop for us. A soprano and graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Ellie's workshop looked at "The Performance Mindset" - looking deep into the performance and practice mindset, and audition preparation and technique. A fascinating talk.
After-School Mini Concert at St.Peter's Primary School
Excelerate Conference in Aberdeen Music Hall
Delighted to have been asked to play for the delegates at the Excelerate Conference in Aberdeen.
Lunchtime Recital St. Andrew's Cathedral
Chloe, Thomas and Freya treated the lunchtime audience to a stunning recital of music by Bach, Copland, Bizet, Vaughan Williams, Schubert, Ravel and Chausson.
Music & Mocktails at St Machar Cathedral
Our jazz quartet entertained new Aberdeen university students at a welcome event at the Cathedral.
Evensong at St Andrew's Carthedral
Lovely to have been invited to join the choir and clergy of St. Andrew's Cathedral. Stanford's Justorum Anime and Beati Quorum Via, and Brewer's Magnificat and Nurc Dimittis in D were a joy to sing.
Northern Meeting Piping Competition
Piper Kai performed very well at the Northern Meeting Piping Competition in Inverness.
Pipe Band Championships
As members of the Methil Pipe Band pipers Kai and Taylor took part in three major championships over the summer. The results were amazing:
Scottish Pipe Band Championship 3rd place
European Pipe Band Championship winner
World Pipe Band Championship 4th place
P7 End of School
Piper Taylor accompanied local P7 pupils as they left their primary schools for the last time.
International Competition Music Academy FORTE
Brussels, Belgium
Congratulations to S6 vocalist Amelia who won 2nd prize in this international competiton this summer.
Cello Masterclass
Cellist Ellen Baumring-Gledhill (recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and former BBC Young Musician String Finalist) visited us and gave a fantastic recital and masterclass for our string players before performing in the opening concert of the 2024 Aboyne Music Festival.
Orchard Brae School Visit
Cathedral at Noon - Jazz Concert
Summer Concert
Fountainhall Church
June 2024
ACMS on Tour
Braemar June 2024
Dyce Community Centre
Lunchtime concert at the Dyce Community Centre. A programme of Scottish traditional music and sing-a-long hits from the 30s, 40s, and 50s.
National Rotary "Kids Out" Day
Our jazz band were delighted to be asked to perform for the biggest single outing for disadvantaged children in the UK.
"White Armband Day"
In commeration the ACMS vocalists and pianist Petra performed "The Seal Lullaby" at the Town House in Aberdeen.
Leven Railway
Piper Kai was delighted to be asked to play at Leven Station for the departure of the first passenger train of the new Levenmouth Rail Link in Fife.
Leavers' Concert May 2024
Heather Performs at Broomhall House
Heather was delighted to be invited to perform at a special cultural concert and awards ceremony at Broomhall House co-hosted by Helena Anderson Wright and the North East Robert Burns Federation Enlightened Burns Project together with Lord Bruce and the Order of the Scottish Samurai. The audience included many esteemed guests including the Consul General of Japan, Mr Tadashi Fujiwara; the Lord Lyon King of Arms Joe Morrow CBE; Sir Iain and Lady Morag Torrance and other senior officails, dignitaries and award winners. Heather received a warm ovation, many lovely compliments about her performance, and was presented with a Medal of Excellence.
Banchory East Church
Our traditional group were delighted to be invited to perform at the Scottish Federation of Organists annual conference .
Cathedral at Noon
ACMS Visit
Today some of our S1 - S3 pupils (plus S6 guitarist Evangelina) visited Dyce Primary and performed for their P5, P6 & P7 pupils. Lots of musicians in the audience, they seemed to love our performance.
Masterclass with Daniel Toderas
Former ACMS pianist Daniel Toderas treated us to an amazing piano masterclass last night. Daniel performed a favourite piece from Prokofiev and then worked with each of our pianists on a piece of music that they are currently learning.
End of Term "Pop" Concert
Aberdeen City Orchestra Youth Orchestra
ACMS pupils Lewis, Freya, Freyja and Douglas as part of Aberdeen City Orchestra Youth Orchestra performed John De Sinone's Unprecented Times and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony at their recent concert.
ACMS at the Beach Ballroom
Music by Vivaldi, conducted by Owen, and Highland Cathedral, conducted by Douglas.
March Concert 2024
Come and Play Day - Jazz
Cathedral at Noon
Lunchtime Concert at Cowdray Hall
Specialist Weekend - Jazz
Holocaust Memorial Day
ACMS pianist Petra is honoured to have been invited to take part in the Scottish memorial Day Ceremony in the Scottish Parliament in edinburgh. Petra performed the Chopin's Nocturne Op.9, No.5 for the assembled audience.
A busy week at ACMS ...
Caithness, Orkney & Shetland Association Burns Supper
Pipers Taylor and Kai were on excellent form performing on Friday night at the Caithness, Orkney & Shetland Association Burns Supper at the Aberdeenshire Cricket Club.
Kingswood & Parkhill Courts
Once again ACMS was delighted to be asked at perform for our local sheltered housing residents.
Cruden Bay Golf Club
Singers Olivia and Chloe, and voice tutor Dr Milne performed at Cruden Bay Golf Club's Burns Supper on Saturday Night.
Music Theory
ACMS pupils have been mentoring our P6 and P7 busary pupils in music theory. Lots of learning and smiling going on.
Piping Competition
ACMS piper Kai completed at the Vale of Atholl, Pitlochry, under 15 piping competition last weekend. Competing in lots of categories Kai was delighted to come overall champion runner-up, and to win two trophies.
Specialist Weekend January 2024
Cathedral at "Noon".
Amelia and Chloe gave a stunning vocal recital of Baroque arias and duets at St. Andrews Cathedral on Saturday.
Guitar Come and Play Day
The Guitar Come and Play Day was a huge success. Thank you to all involed and to Mr Stewart for running such an engaging course.
Specialist Weekend Rehearsals
Lots of time spend working on the early music of Vivaldi, Handel, Purcell & Monteverdi. Well done to all who worked so hard.
Christmas Concert 2024
"A Christmas Medley"
Local composer Clara-Maunder wrote this piece of Christmas music especially for all 32 ACMS pupils, and had lots of fun rehearsing it with us at our last Specialist Weekend.
ACMS and the Aberdeen City Orchestra Youth Ensemble
As part of the ACOYE ACMS pupils Freyja, Lewis, Freya and Douglas performed on Friday at Fountainhall Church at the Stocket. The audience were treated to excerpts from Mozart's Don Giovanni, Emille Mayer's Symphony No.1, and Eddie McGuire's Fiddler's Farewell.
Festive Concerts at the Beach Ballroom
ACMS joined together with pupils from the Aberdeen City Music Service to entertain the audience with a variety of Christmas hits.
ACMS were delighted to premier "A Christmas Medley" which was especially composed for them by local composer Clara-Jane Maunder.
A Visit to Berrymoss Court Sheltered Housing, Dyce
ACMS Entertain New Machar Scouts
Specialist Weekend 4 - "Percussion"
A very busy ACMS Specialist Weekend, lots going on in preparation for our upcoming concerts.
This weekend we focussed on percussion. All the planning and running of the Saturday morning Come and Play session was taken on by S6 pupil Owen.
Specialist Weekend 3
Caithness, Orkney and Shetland Association 125th Anniversary Celebration
Dyce Community Centre Lunchtime Concert
A group of ACMS pupils treated some local residents to a selection of Scottish Traditional music, and some songs from the 30s, 40, and 50s.
"Cathedral at Noon" Recital
ACMS pupils will be performing at the monthly "Cathedral at Noon" recital at St. Andrews Cathedral Church, King Street Aberdeen.
This month pianist Kian peformed a selection from Bach, Mozart, Samuel Barber and Avishai Cohen.
Scottish Ensemble In Sync
Last Friday Dyce Acedemy music pupils weretreated to a performance by Scottish Ensemble In Sync.
One of their members is former ACMS pupil Kirstie Logan.
Violinist Kirstie left in 2010 to study at the Royal Academy of Music, London. She has gone on to tour both this country and the world. Kirstie has fond memories of her time at ACMS and is very aware of the opportunities it gave her, especially the chance to perform in front of a live audience at such a young age.
Autumn End of Term Concert
Jazz Masterclass with Neil Birse (piano), Ray Estaire (vocalist) and Matthew Kilner (saxophone)
A New Song
One of our local primary schools, New Machar Primary, asked us to help them compose a new school song. A group of ACMS pupils visited the school and collaborated with their pupils and the new song is soon to be be released.
Monday Night Bingo at Boarding
Specialist Weekend 2 - "STRINGS"
Come & Play Day
Our ACMS Come & Play day was a hit! 30 local string players joined ACMS pupils for a morning of music making. Thanks to all involved.
Excelerate Conference at Aberdeen Music Hall
Delighted to have been invited to play for the delegates at the Excelerate conference in Aberdeen.
ACMS Alumnus Cameron Barnes visited us today.
Former ACMS piper and musician visited ACMS today, entertaining us with songs from his current tour and answering question about life in the music business. We loved the song he wrote for his daughter and the audience participation.
As a multi-instrumentalist he has toured the world, teaching and performing with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. He recently founded his own folk / rock band Break the Butterfly, which he fronts. His acting roles with the National Theatre of Scotland include Black Watch, and The James Plays trilogy. He is also a successful recording musician.