Inspiring performance since 1911. Over one hundred years of music, speech, drama and dance.

A Platform for Performance

Glasgow Music Festival is an annual festival of music, speech, drama and dance first held in 1911. Each year around 7,000 performers take part in the festival which takes place in March.

There are events for groups of almost any size and description, in addition to an extensive programme for solo performance. Performers have the opportunity to develop their skills through receiving advice and encouragement from a team of experienced professional adjudicators.

News

BBC Proms first

Mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor makes her BBC Proms debut later this year as Anna in Berlioz: The Trojans. She joins mezzo-sopranos Alice Coote, Paula Murrihy and Adèle Charvet in a concert performance at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Beth was awarded the Gervase Elwes Memorial Trophy at Glasgow Music Festival in 2014.

Festival 2023

Following nine days of performances in Music, Speech & Drama and Scottish Country Dancing, the one hundred and eleventh Glasgow Music Festival ended on Saturday 18 March 2023 with the Last Night Concert featuring some outstanding performances.

We are delighted to see a gradual increase in the number of choirs and larger instrumental groups taking part and hope that this will encourage others to join us at next year’s Festival. Audiences were, as always, supportive and enthusiastic and the whole event was greatly enjoyed by everyone involved: performers, adjudicators, accompanists, audiences, stewards and administrators.

The team of adjudicators comprising Timothy Barratt, Stephen Adam, Heather Yule, Avril Smillie, and Brian Marjoribanks who very kindly stepped in at the last minute to cover for Tish Nicoll who was unable to attend, all offered much constructive advice and encouragement. Performers were well supported by our team of Official Accompanists: Chris Baxter, Hebba Benyaghla, Susan Frank, Claire Haslin and Matthew McIlree. Accordionist, Susan MacFadyen, provided music for Scottish country dancing.

Go to Results – 2023 Festival to view the names of those gaining prizes, trophies and awards and to view results of each class.

Festival 2023 – not long now

The one hundred and eleventh Glasgow Music Festival will run from Tuesday 7th to Saturday 18th March 2023 and we are delighted to be able to offer a full range of events.
To find out more, please visit the What’s on page.
If you are a performer, visit the Take part pages for useful information.
We look forward to seeing you at the Festival.

Download Glasgow Music Festival Syllabus

Everything you need to know about the festival in one comprehensive, printable document

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Music

The Festival covers a wide range of music including classical, folk, jazz, rock and traditional Scottish music. There are events for solo singers and instrumentalists in addition to a full programme for choirs, orchestras, bands and ensembles.

Dance

Scottish Country Dancing events are presented in association with the Glasgow Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

Speech & Drama

Speech and Drama events feature mainly, but by no means exclusively, our younger performers. Performers demonstrate their skills in verse, prose, public speaking and drama.