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.

You don’t have to be born in a place to feel it’s home. You don’t even have to live there. I’m an Aberdonian and fiercely proud of my teuchter roots. I still support the Dons for heaven’s sake and that ain’t an easy job. Yet I don’t feel my roots are in the Granite City. It doesn’t hold my heart.

The south of Scotland was unknown territory to me until I came to work at Border TV. The closest I’d ever been was Ayr, where Butlins was my childhood paradise. So when I first started discovering this lovely land – usually with my nose pressed up against the window of a Border TV crewvan – it was like a revelation. How could I possibly have been so unaware of it?

Snag was, I never seemed to have enough time to really get to know places. The camera crew and I would arrive somewhere, drink several cups of coffee, rearrange the furniture in the interviewee’s house to give us the best light and angles, ask our questions, say thanks very much and then depart post-haste to get the story on that evening’s Lookaround. There was precious little time for lollygagging.

When I was asked to write for Dumfries and Galloway Life (or DGB Life as it was originally), I was chuffed to bits. I’ve always loved to write and as a Journalist I’m far happier with features than hard news, so this was the perfect gig. I’m proud to say I’ve had pieces in every single edition of the magazine, including a series looking at the area’s towns and villages which gave me the perfect opportunity to explore and properly get a feel for places like Kippford and Kirkcudbright, Wigtown and Whithorn, instead of just parachuting in for a brief visit.

I’m no fan of cities – on the odd occasion I’ve had to go to London (note the ‘had to’), my sole desire has been to get the hell out again. I’m just so out of my element there and a million miles away from anything resembling a comfort zone. Give me lonely hills, tumbling rivers and beautiful beaches over teeming streets any time.

So – I suspect I hear you ask – if you love the place so much, why are you not living here? Why do you not have your very own hearth and home in Dumfries and Galloway or the Borders? Actually I do – sort of. I lived in Newcastleton for ten years and if ever a place could be described as my spiritual home – it’s Copshaw. It’s in a beautiful area for one thing – there are loads of horses and great places to ride and the people who live there are friendly, welcoming and warm-hearted. Also – my Mum still lives there so I’ve got bed and board any time I fancy. What’s not to love?

Truth is – it was love that took me away from Copshaw and sent me south of the border. Yes Dear Reader, I married a Cumbrian – and his native roots ran deeper than Ground Elder so there was never any hope of him coming over to my side instead. Cumbria’s a grand place too – I have been and still am happy here, even though the aforementioned husband and I have now gone our separate ways.

Fortunately for me, DGWGO didn’t ask to check my visa when it invited me to come on board. And as it proclaims on every page, it’s for ‘people who love Dumfries and Galloway’. That’s me – so here I am. Hope you’ll live up to your wonderful reputation – and make me feel welcome!

Gilly Fraser

The first DUMFRIES YOUTH FEST kicks off on Friday 2nd August with an array of exciting acts at the LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM event, as it comes to Dumfries for the first time. Fans of hit TV show THE X-FACTOR are in for a treat as hit artists MK1 from the 2012 series are set to bring their unique style to the stage. MK1 are a London based duo, Charlotte (Charlie), and Sim. The talented duo have been gigging for a while and making waves writing and producing their own music.

Joining MK1 in the vibrant mix of musical genres is S CLUB. Originally formed in 1997 and with a large back catalogue of hits including BRING IT ALL BACK, S CLUB PARTY and REACH, the band are sure to wow the crowd. Rounding off the diverse musical range of the event are the AMPHETAMEANIES and DOMIBOI, bringing Ska and Hip Hop to Dumfries.

The LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM event will kick off at 7pm in the Big Top Tent on Newall Terrace, Dumfries that is playing host to the Youth Fest and there will be opportunities for a lucky number of party goers to meet and greet some of the acts.

Cara Hyles, a young person from the committee organising the event said; “We are really excited about bringing Love Music Hate Racism to Dumfries. The different types of acts we have performing will hopefully appeal to a range of different people, which is exactly what these events are about – diversity. I can’t think of a better way to launch the Youth Fest!”