The Usher Hall and Live Music Now Scotland have partnered to present a series of special concerts at Usher Hall that showcase the best upcoming musical talent from Scotland. The Emerging Artists series returns for its 10th season and will have four concerts across December and January, each presented by different musicians performing a different style of music.
This partnership forms part of the Usher Hall’s civic commitment and the venue gifts the space to Live Music Now. Many great acts have performed as part of previous Emerging Artists series, including big names in the folk and trad scenes such as Skerryvore and Manran.
New Antonine Brass will return to the Usher Hall to perform a varied programme on the 9th of December. From the opening brilliance of Olympic Fanfare to bringing some Christmas spirit with selections from The Nutcracker there’s something for everyone. As well as playing some well-known brass quintet repertoire, they will also branch out into the world of musical theatre with a mammoth arrangement of songs and dances from West Side Story. There is even a time travelling surprise at the very end of the recital and of course, the chance for some audience participation with our traditional Bavarian snow waltz.
On Monday 6 January, the classical guitarist Jacopo Lazzaretti focuses on Italian composers from different periods – Giulio Regondi, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Carlo Domeniconi. This concert will take audiences on a journey that will explore some of the sonorities and atmospheres of 19th and 20th century through the virtuosism of the classical guitar.
The following week, Armonia Duo (Cuban violinist Eddy Betancourt & Scottish accordionist Valerie Barr) will present a diverse programme including works by Bach, Ravel and Piazzolla on 13 January. Keen to explore the versatility of both of their instruments, they will play their own transcriptions of popular pieces that explore a wide variety of styles included within the classical genre. The duo first met at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and joined Live Music Now Scotland in 2019, and have since enjoyed many performances together in venues across the country.
To round off 3 weeks of inspiring music making, the 20 January sees Scottish folk duo Hannah Rarity and Luc McNally, comprising of former BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2018 and finalist, draw from the Scottish, English, Irish and American music traditions. They’re set to perform a range of traditional, cover and original material that showcases their own musicality and passion for songs and melodies of the people.