Cantilena Festival on Islay

Cantilena is a week-long festival of classical chamber music on the beautiful and romantic island of Islay. Along with five professional players Cantilena selects gifted students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to perform and learn alongside musicians who have all worked with Britain’s major orchestras. This is a rare and highly sought-after event for these young professionals and Cantilena is the only opportunity for Islay residents and visitors to hear music which ranges from Italian Renaissance to the present day. The festival has been taking place for over twelve years now and attracts audiences from as far afield as Italy and Germany thanks to the intimate and informal atmosphere of the concerts which take place in the Columba Centre in Bowmore and a number of Islay’s famous malt whisky distilleries. This year’s festival is from Sunday 9th to Friday 14th July and also features guest artist Swedish conductor and violinist, Tobias Ringborg, whose previous visits to Scotland have been to conduct acclaimed performances with Scottish Opera. Concerts this year include music by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Strauss. For a more detailed programme and ticket information visit cantilenafestival.co.uk. The 2017 Cantilena Festival on Islay will be from 9 - 14 July.