Over 200 talented young musicians from all over Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East are arriving in the Granite City this week to perform in a cross-cultural music festival.

Hosted on our premises, the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) Middle & High School Honor Bands Festival 2024 will welcome young performers from 20 international schools. The musicians will arrive at ISA on Thursday (March 14th) to begin three days of rehearsals and events, culminating in a Gala Concert in the school’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Saturday, March 16th, at 7 pm.

Each ensemble will perform a Scottish piece with Alford Academy Pipe Band at the concert which is free to attend and open to the public.

Three ISA students will perform in the Gala Concert alongside their fellow international musicians. Rose Veitch, clarinet in the Middle School Honor Band and Karim Kudhr, baritone saxophone, in the High School Honor Band, will be sitting first chair within their section. Matilda Brazier has a special vocal feature in ‘Loch Lomond’ with the Middle School Honor Band.

Kent Walter, our Instrumental Music Teacher, said, “We are thrilled to bring this wonderful celebration of young musical talent to Aberdeen. As an international school, we are incredibly proud of our internationalism and welcome every opportunity to shine the spotlight on both our home-grown talent and the gifted musicians who will be joining us from all over the world.

“The Gala Concert will be an uplifting evening welcoming the school community as well as the wider public in what promises to be a vibrant celebration of traditional Scots music and song with an international flavour.”

We first joined AMIS in 2000 and have since hosted 13 festivals in conjunction with the organisation, which has over 100 member schools on five continents and provides a network of support for music programmes in international schools all over the world.

Nick Little, our Head of School, added, “ISA is a huge supporter of nurturing young talent and uniting a global community of young and accomplished performers. We are privileged to bring this wonderful group of musicians to Aberdeen to perform alongside our own talented students as we continue to inspire and motivate the next generation of composers and musicians.”

Wishing the best of luck to all the students, and we're eagerly looking forward to watching them perform on Saturday evening!