Award winning Scottish musical entrepreneur Alex McQuiston’s groundbreaking classical music festival is bringing top international artists to the rural south west of Scotland for the third consecutive summer.
Founder and Director of the International Musicians Platform and Greyfriars Concerts in Dumfries, cellist Alex’s enthusiasm and determination, coupled with his artistic vision, has attracted significant funding from Creative Scotland through Quality arts programming, Magnox North and the Holywood Trust.
After completing his studies at Chethams School of Music, The Royal Northern College of Music and the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana with Maestro Johannes Goritzki, the 26-year-old, who was named Dumfries and Galloway Life Magazine’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012, began developing a career as artistic director of the Scottish International Cello Festival and Greyfriars Concerts.
The Greyfriars concerts, Scotcellofest in 2011 and the International Musicians Platform 2012 and 2013 have brought some of the world’s best classical musicians to the Dumfries & Galloway region. Previous performers have included Steven Osborne, Karine Georgian, John Lenehan, Edoardo Catemario and the Primrose Piano Quartet
Dumfries & Galloway International Musicians Platform 2013, 2 – 11 August 2013
The 2013 Dumfries & Galloway International Musicians Platform will run from 2 to 11 August 2013 with performances and master classes taking place at venues throughout Dumfries & Galloway including Greyfriars Church in Dumfries, Annan Academy Performing Arts Centre and the Catstrand, New Galloway.
The festival is proud to announce its partnership with Blüthner Pianos and will host the first Blüthner Artiste weekend in Scotland, featuring pianists Samantha Ward, Yuki Negishi, Maciej Raginia and Grace Mo, on the opening weekend of 2nd – 4th August 2013.
Throughout the second week of the festival, eminent cellist, Johannes Goritzki, will lead an exciting programme of solo and chamber repertoire alongside Nicholas Jones (Chethams’ Head of Strings), the Glasgow String Quartet and John Thwaites (Head of Keyboard at Birmingham Conservatoire).
There will be a comprehensive summer school of workshops, master classes and lunchtime concerts based at the new performing arts centre at Annan Academy. Workshops, classes and lunchtime concerts will be free for all young people from Dumfries & Galloway and there will be the opportunity to play alongside international students in the summer school.
The second and final weekend of the festival, will be supported by Stringers of Edinburgh, the leading musical instrument supplier and features the German master cellist, Johannes Goritzki in two concerts at Greyfriars Church in Dumfries on Saturday and Sunday and a Friday evening concert to be held at the Catstrand in New Galloway on 9th July.
Click here to book your tickets and to apply to take part in the master classes.
