Renowned composer Sir James reveals festival programme

COMPOSER Sir James Mac Millan, who was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, has unveiled t he second programme for his own music festival in his home town.

Performances by two young musicians of the year, a new Cumnock Tryst Festival Chorus, a three-year collaboration with Drake Music Scotland and a residency by the Hebrides Ensemble are part of the programme for the event.

The festival, which will take place in Cumnock, East Ayrshire, from October 1 to 4, will also see new work composed by Sir James and a composer from New Cumnock, Jay Capperauld.

Music will be performed in venues across the town and in Dumfries House during the festival. The festival chorus, made up of singers from the town as well as the wider Ayrshire area, will rehearse in two intense weekends before the festival.

Sir James said he remains surprised by his knighthood and is still “shellshocked”.

He said: “After the wonderful experience of the inaugural festival last year I have been very excited about following up with a new set of concerts and events.

“Threads continuing in this year’s festival include our exploration of brass music, which is so integral to the musical history of the area, and choral music.”

The Cumnock Tryst was founded in 2014 – the festi- val’s name was inspired by a piece of music MacMillan wrote in the 1980s when he was still living in Ayrshire.

Last year 40 per cent of the audience came from Cumnock and the composer said he felt the area embraced the festival, which he said will be an annual event.