Orchestra · Edinburgh

SCO

Small enough for every musical thought to feel personal; bold enough to reshape the room.

2026/27 SeasonThe Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh8 friends follow

Scottish Chamber Orchestra · Official ensemble portrait

An orchestra with the distance taken out.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra — Since 1974, the SCO has travelled Scotland with music made at human scale: every player audible, every idea alive. Music Director Maxim Emelyanychev opens 2026/27 in a blaze of Berlioz, then the season moves through Bach, Richter, Haydn and Bartók without losing that feeling of close conversation.

SCO · 2026/27 Season

Close enough to hear the ideas spark.

See the full SCO season ↗

Maxim Emelyanychev raises his hand as he conducts

23–25 Sep · Perth, Edinburgh & Glasgow

Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

Maxim Emelyanychev · Timothy Ridout · Harold in Italy + Symphonie fantastique

A season begins in fevered colour: one viola wandering, one orchestra dreaming out loud.

Maxim Emelyanychev conducts the orchestra with the chorus singing behind

1–2 Oct · Edinburgh & Glasgow

Bach St Matthew Passion

Maxim Emelyanychev · SCO Chorus · Bach’s St Matthew Passion

Sunwook Kim rests his head on his hands, reflected in an open piano

8–10 Oct · Edinburgh, Glasgow & Aberdeen

Beethoven Piano Concertos

Sunwook Kim · Stephanie Gonley · Shaw + Beethoven 4 & 5

Mari Samuelsen holds her violin and wears a long black dress

22–23 Oct · Edinburgh & Glasgow

Max Richter+

David Brophy · Mari Samuelsen · Glass + Adams + Richter

Ryan Bancroft conducts against a dark backdrop in a white shirt

29–30 Oct · Edinburgh & Glasgow

Barber’s Adagio & Violin Concerto

Ryan Bancroft · Clara-Jumi Kang · Schulhoff + Barber + Weill

Andrew Manze conducts the orchestra, holding a baton

4–6 Nov · St Andrews, Edinburgh & Glasgow

Tchaikovsky Serenade

Andrew Manze · Amalie Stalheim · Hillborg + Tchaikovsky

Sheku Kanneh-Mason holds his cello and an outstretched bow

12–13 Nov · Edinburgh & Glasgow

Sheku Kanneh-Mason plays Haydn

Andrew Manze · Sheku Kanneh-Mason · Capperauld + Haydn + Beethoven

Sir Stephen Hough looks to the right at his piano

26–27 Nov · Edinburgh & Glasgow

The Magic of Mendelssohn

Maxim Emelyanychev · Sir Stephen Hough · SCO Chorus · Mendelssohn

Maxim Emelyanychev plays piano while the orchestra performs behind

3–4 Dec · Edinburgh & Glasgow

Bartók’s Music for Strings

Maxim Emelyanychev · Schnittke + Bartók + Dvořák