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

Festival 2024

The one hundred and twelfth Glasgow Music Festival will run from 6th to 16th March 2024.

We are delighted to be able to offer a full range of events and look forward to continuing to build on last year’s very successful Festival welcoming even more choirs, bands, orchestras and dance teams in addition to the many soloists and smaller ensembles. We plan to hold many of the events for large groups in the Main Auditorium at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Guitarists, take a look at our new events for Rock and Pop Guitar Solos of all levels.

If you are a young person new to solo singing and maybe not quite ready to take the stage on your own, or perhaps you just like the idea of singing with a friend, check out the Share a Song events.

There’s lots of information in the Take part pages where you’ll also find entry forms. Browse the Choose your event pages for full details of all events on offer. If you’d like a downloadable version of the Festival Syllabus, there is a download button near the foot of every page.

If you’ve any questions or need further information, please contact us.

BBC Proms first

Mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor made her BBC Proms debut in 2023 as Anna in Berlioz: The Trojans. She joined 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 Dinis Sousa. 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.

Download Glasgow Music Festival Syllabus

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

Download PDF (4Mb)

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.