Scottish tenor and rising star Matthew McKinney gives an intimate recital with two exceptional partners, pianist Roelof Temmingh and guitarist Sasha Savaloni. Matthew is no stranger to The Cumnock Tryst or to Ayr Choral Union, and his association with Sir James MacMillan recently took him to the Sistine Chapel as soloist in Angels Unawares.
The programme moves from day to night, weaving together Schubert, Britten, and Scottish song with new music by Roelof Temmingh, as piano and guitar take turns accompanying the voice. A rare chance to hear one of today’s most exciting young voices up close, in one of Scotland’s most remarkable settings.
About Matthew McKinney
Hailed for his “gorgeous lyric voice”, Scottish tenor Matthew McKinney is quickly establishing a reputation for his nuanced artistry, innate musicality and expressive performance across opera, song and concert. He won the main prize at the 2024 Kathleen Ferrier Awards. In the 2026–27 season he returns to English National Opera as Boy Angel in Du Yun’s Angel’s Bone, following his company debut earlier this year, and sings Bach’s St Matthew Passion with Dunedin Consort.
Recent highlights include his principal debut at Glyndebourne in the world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s The Railway Children and his Carnegie Hall debut as a Song Studio artist. With The Sixteen and Britten Sinfonia, he was soloist in the world premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s Angels Unawares in the Sistine Chapel, and again at Cadogan Hall.
His roles for English Touring Opera include Luigino (Il viaggio a Reims) and Rustighello (Lucrezia Borgia). On the concert platform he has sung the Evangelist in Bach’s St John Passion at Paisley Abbey and Mendelssohn’s Elijah in Ayr, and his repertoire also includes MacMillan’s All the Hills and Vales Along.
Matthew is an accomplished recitalist and has appeared with pianists Malcolm Martineau and Dearbhla Collins. With his duo partner Roelof Temmingh he has created Finding Freedom, a programme that blends the traditional recital with distinctive contemporary elements. They have performed it at Bechstein Hall, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Cambridge Summer Music Festival, among other venues across the UK and Ireland.
Community music sits at the heart of Matthew’s work. He has conducted community choirs, toured new opera for children and led interactive music workshops for toddlers. He is a proud honorary patron of Streetwise Opera.
Programme
To include:
Schubert Erlkönig, Ständchen, Wandrers Nachtlied
Britten Selections from The Holy Sonnets of John Donne and Winter Words; Canticle I: My Beloved is Mine
Roelof Temmingh Rooibosduif, Verjaarsdagbrief
Traditional Ae Fond Kiss, My Lagan Love
Date
Sunday 15 November 2026
5:00pm
Venue
Dumfries House
Tickets
£15 (local discounts and concessions available)
Duration
Approximately 70 mins (no interval)
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Terms and conditions
- Once purchased, tickets cannot be refunded, except in the event of a cancelled performance. Please ensure you leave your contact details when purchasing tickets.
- Exchanges may be available (at our discretion) for another performance if there are tickets available. No refunds can be made for lower priced tickets, and the difference for higher priced tickets must be paid.
- Events will start at the published time. Latecomers may not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance.
- Events may be filmed or photographed by The Cumnock Tryst. By attending you give your consent for your image to be included online and in our printed materials in the future.
- We reserve the right to refuse admission.
- Mobile phones must be switched off during events.
- Filming and photography by audience members is not permitted during events.
- Event content and performers may change at short notice, or differ from published details. The Cumnock Tryst reserves the right to change programme details at any point and with no obligation to refund tickets and associated costs.
- All audience members of all ages must be in possession of a valid ticket; babes in arms are not permitted.
- The Cumnock Tryst reserves the right to change a programme, performer or venue due to unforeseen circumstances. If we have to make a change we will contact ticket buyers.
Any remaining tickets will be available on the door at the venue, 45 minutes before each event. Seating is unreserved in all venues. Doors open 30 minutes before each event. The Box Office will operate an advance waiting list for sold out concerts.
Students in full time education and local residents* can receive a discount on tickets for most concerts. Please see individual listings and ticket information details. Proof of entitlement will be required.
Discounts for buying for multiple events:
- 15% discount if you book for 8 paid for events
- 10% discount for 6 paid for events
- 5% discount for 4 paid for events
*Local residents from Cumnock and Doon Valley – Cumnock, New Cumnock, Auchinleck, Bellsbank, Catrine, Coylton, Dalmellington, Dalrymple, Drongan, Hollybush, Logan, Lugar, Mauchline, Muirkirk, Ochiltree, Patna, Rankinston, Smallburn, Sorn, Tarbolton and Waterside with the following postcodes: KA5 5… / KA5 6… / KA6 6… / KA6 7… / KA18 1… / KA18 2… / KA18 3… / KA18 4…