The Cumnock Tryst hosting International Summer School for composers with Sir James MacMillan and Anna Thorvaldsdottir

Dumfries House

The Cumnock Tryst, the festival founded by Sir James MacMillan, is hosting its first International Summer School for composers. Taking place from 4 to 10 August 2024 at Dumfries House, the Summer School will give composers aged between 18 and 30 the opportunity to work closely with leading composers Sir James MacMillan and Anna Thorvaldstottir. 

The week will culminate in a public performance at Dumfries House on Saturday 10 August, when the composers’ work from the week will be brought to life by a professional ensemble consisting of string trio and contrabass clarinet. The ensemble, which has been specially created for this occasion, consists of the distinctive combination of strings and contrabass clarinet and is comprised of some of the finest instrumentalists in the UK – Gordon Bragg (violin), Ruth Gibson (viola), Christian Elliott (cello) and Contrabass Clarinet (Scott Lygate). The ensemble will be on hand to work with the composers throughout the week. 

Applications are open worldwide to aspiring talented composers between the ages of 18 and 30, and the eight successful participants will be able to immerse themselves in their craft, benefiting from individual feedback and guidance from MacMillan and Thorvaldsdottir, not to mention to delight and privilege of spending a week in the glorious confines of Dumfries House!

Applications are open until 23 February 2024, further details from the Cumnock Tryst's website.