Updates

The latest thoughts & news from those within the Aberdeen music scene.

Save Aberdeen Arts Centre

19 May 2025

Aberdeen Arts Centre has today (Monday, May 19) launched an urgent appeal to arts and theatre lovers to keep the spotlight shining on the beloved city centre venue.

The centre has raised the curtain on its ‘Save Aberdeen Arts Centre’ campaign – a three-year, £660,000 fundraising drive to support its operations. For more information, visit www.aberdeenartscentre.com and to donate, visit https://justgiving.com/campaign/saveaberdeenartscentre.

The campaign has already received backing from a host of famous faces including actors Laura Main, Amy Lennox and Brian Cox; Hollywood director Jon S Baird; magician Barry Jones; and virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.

The six-figure total will cover core running costs over the next three years as the venue implements a new strategy to keep the vital creative and community venue open for future generations.

The organisation has set an initial target of raising £180,000 by July 1, 2025.

Eve Nicol, programming and creative director, said: “Everywhere I go in Aberdeen, I meet so many people whose lives have been touched by Aberdeen Arts Centre – by the shows on our stage, by the opportunities to learn and perform, by the life skills they have gained. That so many people across the city have been influenced by their experiences here shows just how vital a resource Aberdeen Arts Centre is for Aberdeen and the wider north east region. The outpouring of love and support we have had already has been deeply moving but now we must take action to secure the centre’s future. If the majority of our audience members from last year donated £11.25 each we’ll meet our initial July 1 deadline. A personal gift from those who know and feel the value of grassroots arts in their life will go a long way to secure its continuation in the city.”

Aberdeen Arts Centre is home to over 35 local performing and community groups that make use of the venue every year. In addition, the centre’s Creative Learning and Artist Development programmes support those engaging in the arts at all levels, from beginners of all ages to local professionals furthering their craft.

Those interested in supporting the venue can attend an open public meeting at Aberdeen Arts Centre on Tuesday, May 27 at 6.30pm. Register your interest here: https://www.aberdeenartscentre.com/whats-on/save-aberdeen-arts-centre-open-public-meeting

Chair of Aberdeen Arts Centre’s board of trustees, Sharon Robertson commented: “Since its inception, Aberdeen Arts Centre has been a creative lifeline for local performers, artists and audiences alike. Through donations and subsidies, we’ve kept our venue accessible, ensuring the arts remain a vibrant part of our city. But today, we need your support more than ever. The cost of running the centre has surged in recent years, creating a critical funding gap. We’ve recognised the need to diversify our income streams and are actively implementing a sustainable financial strategy to secure our future. However, as we work to establish this plan, we’ve had to temporarily rely on our reserves – something common in the arts sector but which unfortunately affects our eligibility for certain funding. Here’s where we need the community help: to safeguard Aberdeen Arts Centre and keep it thriving for generations to come, we urgently need to raise £180,000 by July 1. Restoring our reserves before this crucial deadline ensures we can present a strong case for reinstating our funding when councillors debate the issue. There is then a choice for the elected members to make: allocate funds to the Arts Centre from contingencies – this is within their gift to do. Every contribution, big or small, helps protect this space for the local creative community. Your support keeps artists on stage, ideas alive, and culture thriving. Join us – because together, we can secure the future of Aberdeen Arts Centre.”

This is not the first time Aberdeen Arts Centre has faced hardship. In 1998, Annie Inglis gathered 14,500 signatures to save the centre from closure.

Eve added: “The opportunity to perform or express yourself creatively can be a lifeline for people of all ages, for so many different reasons. That’s why we are so passionate about supporting grassroots performance. It’s not just about the joy of stepping on stage; it’s also about the skills you learn for life, including teamwork, resilience and self-confidence. Appearing on our stage sets up so many young people for life, whether they choose to pursue the arts or another career. Without major support, we risk losing that vital resource here in Aberdeen. Many of the companies that use the centre have casts of over 200 eager local performers. When these groups are in, the building comes alive with the buzz and excitement of performance. There are no other venues in Aberdeen that can accommodate groups of this size for an affordable price. Without Aberdeen Arts Centre, the north east of Scotland would see its creative life greatly diminish.”

Aberdeen Arts Centre is an independent arts venue and registered charity in the heart of Aberdeen. For over 60 years, it has played a crucial role in the north east’s vibrant arts scene through its programme of performances, Creative Learning Programme for children and adults, and an Artist Development Programme to support local professional creatives.

The venue encompasses a 350-seater auditorium; café bar; flexible spaces for performances, events, exhibitions and meetings; and the Children’s Theatre, opened by Catherine Hollingworth in the 1950s as a pioneering youth theatre (the first of its kind in the UK) and now used as a vital resource for professional artist development.

For more information, visit www.aberdeenartscentre.com or follow Aberdeen Arts Centre on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @AberdeenArtsCentre.

Keep reading

Vacancy for Musical Director based at Haddo House, Tarves, Aberdeenshire

12 May 2025

Haddo House Choral & Operatic Society

Our present Musical Director will be leaving in June 2025 and we are now looking for a successor.  This would be an exciting position for either an experienced, or novice, choir-master with a passion for  choral work and opera, who has the drive to continue to take our musical programmes forward with an  ever-respectful eye to the strong traditions HHCOS has built up over the years.  

HHCOS was established some 80 years ago, and currently has some 60 adult singing voices. The choir  is non-auditioned and is a blend of trained and untrained voices. The last few years have seen us  perform choral works at the theatre and chapel at Haddo House and other venues. 

Our Aims and Objectives include the encouragement of young musicians, both professional and  amateur, and our ambitious repertoire has allowed us to develop good links with the Royal  Conservatoire of Scotland from where we often engage students as our soloists. We also encourage  local orchestral players to perform in the Haddo Orchestra and we are fortunate to have a long standing relationship with the Aberdeen Sinfonietta. Over the years we have welcomed many guest  directors, singers and conductors – they have all said that Haddo is a very special place to perform. 

Our current plans for 2025/2026 comprise a performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion this October, a series  of carol concerts in December and, in March 2026, an event to celebrate our 80th Anniversary.  

We will require our new Musical Director to begin in October 2025 and to take full responsibility for  the December 2025 carol concerts before preparing for an anniversary performance in March 2026.  On completion of a trial period of 9 months with the choir, the position may become permanent. 

Our founder, June Gordon, set out to make classical music and opera something to be enjoyed by all,  and we would want our new Musical Director to embrace this philosophy. Our aspirations are  ambitious, and we look to be led by a Musical Director who can bring the very best out of us, and who  has the skills to work with singers of mixed abilities. We would look to him or her to develop our  musical programme for each year, and take weekly rehearsals with our principal choir during school  term-times, with additional rehearsals required in the lead-up to concerts and productions.  

We invite applications for this position, and ask that, together with a brief CV, applicants also enclose  their suggestions for a musical programme covering the next two seasons. Whilst we acknowledge that  you do not know us, or our capabilities as a choir, it will none-the-less give us an idea of where your  own vision and ambitions may lie. 

Remuneration for the post will be by negotiation. 

Applications should be submitted electronically to our Secretary, Sue Willing, at  secretary@hhcos.org.uk. The closing date for applications is Friday 23rd May. Interviews will be  carried out at Haddo during the following 2 weeks.

Founders: David Gordon CBE K.StJ and June Gordon CBE DL FRCM FRSAMD FRSE
Royal Patron: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, KG GCVO ADC
Patrons: Joanna, the Marchioness of Aberdeen & Temair, Dr Neil Mackie CBE FRSAMD FRCM,
Patricia MacMahon FRSAMD, Dr Lisa A Milne MBE

www.hhcos.org.uk

Keep reading

Spectrum Singers is looking for a new musical director

11 February 2025

Spectrum Singers are a small amateur choir based in Kemnay. We are looking to recruit a musical director who can develop our musical skills and accompany us at rehearsals and performances. We meet every Sunday from 1.45 -3.45 and enjoy the challenge and fun of learning new pieces together. Payment will be discussed at the interview and travelling expenses may be covered.

If you would like more information, please contact naida.sneddon@hotmail.co.uk or phone 07811699034.

Keep reading

Inverurie Choral Society is looking for a new Director of Music for January 2025

14 November 2024

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC POSITION   Inverurie Choral Society seeks a Graduate/Post-graduate musician with a qualification/interest in Vocal Tuition, who would like to progress their musical career development by directing a local Choir such as ours.  Excellent Keyboard skills for our weekly practices and the occasional informal performances are essential.  We do “buy in” an accompanist for formal concerts, but do not have a weekly accompanist. A fee is payable per rehearsal and for concerts.  

APPLICATIONS  Applications are invited from musicians with appropriate qualifications. A recently qualified graduate who is looking to develop experience as a choir MD is certainly welcome to apply.  A letter of application with CV attached should be emailed to arrive by Friday 17 January 2025:  to inveruriechoral@gmail.com or by post to: 
Inverurie Choral Society, 
c/o 7, Cuninghill Road, 
Inverurie, AB51 3TS

SPREAD THE WORD!  If you are interested, we would be pleased to receive your application a soon as possible.  If you know of anyone else who might be interested in joining us as our new Director of Music, would you please pass on this information to them? We’d be very happy to discuss the post informally with anyone interested in applying - please see contact information below.   

SELECTION PROCESS  A practical interview will be arranged as soon as possible on a Wednesday evening, provisionally 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday 22nd or Wednesday 29th January 2025. This will consist of an informal two-way discussion, followed by taking the choir for a warm-up and rehearsal.  

INVERURIE CHORAL SOCIETY   ICS is a small SATB Choir, with approximately 30 active members. The ability to read music is helpful, but not essential, and we hold no auditions.  We meet on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm during school terms in the Acorn Centre, Inverurie, AB51 3SA.  Founded in 1998 by our first Director of Music John Hearne, Moira Hunter took over in 2005, with a year’s input from Paul Tierney during Moira’s absence. Gordon Jack led us from January 2019 until June 2022, and kept us singing throughout the 2020 lockdown. Faith Ockwell joined us as MD in August 2022 but unfortunately we will lose her skills and enthusiasm as she plans to relocate in the new year. 

We sing an eclectic selection from both the classical and contemporary Choral Repertoire, everything from Madrigals to Vaudeville, Mozart to Jenkins, and more. We put on a Christmas and Summer Concert each year, and organise an annual Come and Sing event. We do Sing-Outs by request at Sheltered, Care and Retirement homes, and for Charity fundraising events.   

Our new website is: https://www.inveruriechoral.co.uk/
Our email is: inveruriechoral@gmail.com

Landline: 01467 620441 (Maeve McDowall)
Text/WhatsApp  07801 078000 (Alan Grant)

Maeve McDowall, on behalf of Inverurie Choral Society Committee

Inverurie Choral Society is registered Scottish Charity no: SC034022

Keep reading