Live Music Now Scotland

Yesterday, we hosted the 2nd session of this year's LMNS auditions, which was taking place at the Scottish Opera in Glasgow. We had a fantastic time and met with a great and very talented bunch of musicians. We have another two sessions left and we can't wait to hear more music soon! Stay tuned for more info on who goes through this year. Thanks to the panel, the LMNS team members and our brilliant ushers! #LiveMusicNowScotland #Auditions #Musicians #MakeMoreMusic

From everyone at Live Music Now Scotland, we would like to say a warm welcome to our new CEO, Jude Anderson. Jude joins LMNS from the position of Head of Development & Operations at Starcatchers, Scotland’s national arts and early years organisation. Her leadership experience spans multiple sectors, working collaboratively to achieve social impact through the arts. Read more on our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/eJxN6ZRe

Last week, Rosie and Anna gave a wonderful performance at Edinburgh's National Galleries of Scotland, performing a superb programme which celebrated LGBT+ History Month. Here’s a stunning photo of the LMNS duo, along with their comments on the evening. Original captions • Rosie Lavery and Anna Michels Rosie Lavery on FB: “Had the most incredible evening performing a special recital celebrating LGBT+ History Month at the National Galleries of Scotland. We performed a programme of LGBT+ composers and poets, including pieces by Ethyl Smythe, Marie Dare, Poulenc, Copland’s settings of Emily Dickinson, Morgen by Strauss (highlighting gay Scottish poet John Henry McKay) and finishing with Somewhere by Bernstein. It felt so liberating to perform a recital solely created by queer people and, in today’s scary and unsafe world for LGBT+people, poetry and music reminds us to stick together and fight for a better tomorrow for all. 💕 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ Thank you so so much to Live Music Now Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland and the lovely audience who joined us x” Anna Michels on IG: “A very special recital celebrating LGBT+ History Month with my lovely Rosie at the National Galleries. 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ Our programme celebrated queer composers and poets, including Copland’s settings of Emily Dickinson, the powerhouse Ethel Smyth, Poulenc’s “Le Travail du Peintre”, the setting of John Henry Mackay’s “Morgen” by Strauss, and Bernstein’s “Somewhere”. 💗 Thank you so much to Live Music Now Scotland for bringing us back to the galleries.” 🖼️ #LiveMusicNowScotland #LiveMusic #LGBTHistoryMonth #lgbtq

Each year, LMNS musicians deliver hundreds of performances and workshops, bringing the transformative power of music to thousands of people across Scotland. When a performance takes place somewhere you wouldn't normally be able to access live music, in people's own environment, it becomes a unique experience for all. One of our partners is the wonderful Horatio's Garden. Here, the wellbeing of people is being nurtured in beautiful, vibrant sanctuaries within the heart of NHS spinal injury centres. LMNS musicians, like Katy Bell here photographed by Helen Hyland, frequently visit Horatio’s Garden Scotland, at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit in Glasgow. According to staff, bringing music into the unit provides individuals with a chance to relax, experience joy, distract from pain, and connect with others. Read more about our work with adults and older people: https://lnkd.in/eZmgcuGQ and to find out more about Horatio's Garden: https://lnkd.in/eAKWDRQS Image quotes: "Several people closed their eyes while listening and appeared to be transported somewhere else.” - Arts Assistant at Horatio's Garden "People commented on the range of notes able to be created from the instrument and how the vibrations gave the music a visceral quality that they could feel in their bodies.” - Arts Assistant at Horatio's Garden #Community #MusicMatters #MusicForAll #NHS #LiveMusic

Sharing this exciting piece of news for our friends over at Aberdeenshire Council. Aberdeenshire’s Youth Music Initiative Programme has just launched its brand-new Engage Site! 🎶✨ Access their hub via: https://lnkd.in/eZGYpsKR Engage Aberdeenshire, provides the opportunity to offer input into a broad range of projects, activities and decisions. It is a dedicated space where people can gather information, share their ideas and have their say on a variety of matters. #YMI #YouthMusic #MusicForAll #HaveYourSay

Big congratulations to our friend, Bryce Morrison, who has had a number of his videos accepted for the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive. Two of the videos are of LMNS  performances which took place at the National Museums Scotland about a decade ago during Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society festival times. Bryce Morrison has been creating videos of events and places for years, hoping they might one day become a part of social history. After sharing his YouTube channel with the National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive, they reached out months later with a list of Scottish videos they wanted to adopt. Over the course of 12 years, Bryce's channel has accumulated around 300 videos and over a million views. He agreed to allow the Archive to take his digital masters, ensuring their preservation, while maintaining his copyright. Some videos will be available online, others only in the Glasgow reference library. Bryce is happy that the videos are being safely stored, and encourages others to explore his YouTube channel - which has something for everyone! Here is one of the videos with music at the museum: https://lnkd.in/e9jTyVT4

Last week, Scotland House London hosted an unforgettable event: #2025BurnsNight Amazing event celebrating Scotland’s diverse culture, foods and artists, encompassing respect towards traditional music (in collaboration with the Live Music Now Scotland) and modern day businesses all in one highly enjoyable event with fantastic locally sourced foods and drinks.

"What does the song of the rivers sound like? Can rivers be bridges between cultures? The Community Choir of the various schools that Valle La Paz Foundation collaborates with performs 'River, River', a new melody that connects Scotland with Mexico." - Fundación Valle La Paz In 2023, Live Music Now Scotland partnered up with Mexico-based Prisma, founded by former Live Music Now musician Morgan Szymanski. Supported by the British Mexican Society, LMNS violinist Roo Geddes visited Mexico in the autumn of 2023 to partake in PRISMA workshops and performances for children in remote communities. This partnership also led to LMNS connecting with Fundación Valle La Paz, when musicians Lavinia Negrete and Morgan Szymanski visited Scotland last year. This lovely video is courtesy of Fundación Valle La Paz and shows young people in Mexico singing 'River River', a song that Lavinia picked up from Roo & Neil, in a session of the LMNS series, Traditional Tunes for Tiny People, taking place at the banks of the Tweed. The video is made with the participation of teachers Lavinia Negrete, Andrea Esquitín, Ana Regina Cuarón and Julio César Reyes. https://lnkd.in/eVu7WEak Roo Geddes is one of the six finalists of this year's BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year. The final is taking place at Celtic Connections this Sunday and will also feature LMNS guitarist Miguel Girão. Good look to our two musicians - along with all the talented finalists! Read more about our partnership with PRISMA: https://lnkd.in/eQEcvTjf

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting our #2025BurnsNight celebration at Scotland House London. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us. Burns Night is a time to celebrate Scotland’s rich culture, connect with one another, and enjoy the values that Burns held dear: friendship, unity, and the joy of life. A huge thank you as well to Live Music Now Scotland artists Isla Ratcliff and Evie Waddle, whose performance brought Burns’ spirit to life in a way that will stay with us all. The evening was not only a celebration of Burns and Scottish culture but also an incredible showcase of Scotland’s world-class food and drink. We were proud to feature the amazing produce of Scotland Food & Drink members, including: 🥩 Amity Fish Company Ltd with fresh seafood provided by Jimmy Buchan, owner of Amity Fish and star of BBC’s Trawlermen. 🍽️ Charles Macleod Stornoway Black Pudding, a Scottish classic that speaks for itself! 🧀 Taste of Arran offering an exceptional selection of cheese. 🍪 Stockan's Oatcakes Ltd, a perfect pairing for the cheese. The evening’s catering, crafted by the talented Auld Hag team, brought all of these elements together in a true feast from Scotland’s larder. We were also delighted to spotlight regional food groups Eat Drink Hebrides and Ayrshire Food an’ a’ That, who showcased the incredible variety of flavours and talent from their areas. A huge thank you to CHIVAS BROTHERS PERNOD RICARD for their fantastic support. Whisky is more than a drink; it’s a symbol of Scotland’s craftsmanship, tradition, and global connections. Scotland’s food and drink are truly second to none, and it was great to highlight the innovation, quality, and passion of the people and businesses behind these outstanding products. Thank you to all who contributed to this unforgettable night, it was a joy to celebrate and share Scotland’s best with such a fantastic audience The Hebridean Mustard Company STAG BAKERIES LIMITED Isla Cruickshank Blackthorn | Scottish Sea Salt Flakes Uig Lodge Smoked Salmon Jamie Durkin Mark B. Chris McDade Carol Main