Dame Evelyn Glennie is coming to Cumnock

An evening with Dame Evelyn Glennie is a special one-off event for our local community and supporters which will also herald The Tryst’s return to activity.

Evelyn Glennie is one of the most influential musicians to have emerged from Scotland in recent decades. She is one of those rare classical performers who are genuinely loved and admired by a huge range of people. Because of this she has attracted many to the beauties and joys of percussion music, and modern classical music in particular. It has long been our ambition to bring her to Cumnock so that the local people in Ayrshire and the Tryst’s many supporters can have the opportunity to meet her, and to hear her talk and play.

Dumfries House, Friday 22 April 7.30pm
Sign Language interpreted
FREE tickets

At this event, I will also announce the programme for our Cumnock Tryst 2022 festival. The concerts and events from 29th September to 2nd October this year represent an important development in The Tryst’s growth, and our supporters will be excited to hear of our new plans for our 8th festival.

I composed my concerto Veni, Veni Emmanuel for Evelyn in 1992, and she has played it all over the world. It has become my most popular and performed work, having now received over 600 performances. In many ways Evelyn and I have been good for each other! We have figured as vitally influential figures in each other’s careers and lives in music. This event in Dumfries Houses gives our audience the opportunity to hear about this and about Evelyn’s extraordinary musical journey from an Aberdeenshire schoolgirl to an international star and virtuoso.

As well as hearing Evelyn and I in conversation, our audience will be treated to a special and intimate musical glimpse into her legendary artistry, as she will weave some solo percussion pieces into the evening.

In the afternoon Evelyn and I will work with young people from across Ayrshire in a workshop on musical creativity, and they will then perform as part of the evening event. It will include a British Sign Language interpreter and be carried out in collaboration with CentreStage, who seek to deliver life changing social benefits through participation in the arts, and Solar Bear theatre company who work with deaf and hearing actors, theatre makers, artists and young people.
— Sir James MacMillan