Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s annual Summer Tour, world-class music for 26 towns and cities across Scotland
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) will present orchestral, chamber, choral and creative learning programmes as they travel the length and breadth of Scotland, visiting 26 venues.
From 23 May, the SCO will embark on its annual Summer Tour, this year stretching from Fraserburgh in the northeast to Kirkcudbright in the southwest.
As one of Scotland’s five national performing companies, the SCO’s Summer Tour strengthens its connections with Scottish communities offering world class music to audiences who might not otherwise experience it.
Gavin Reid, SCO Chief Executive, said: “We’re thrilled to be returning for our Summer Tour and look forward to welcoming music-lovers across Scotland to SCO concerts, wherever they may be. We hope to share memorable musical experiences across many Scottish communities.”
The full orchestra presents four programmes as part of the Summer Tour. SCO Principal Conductor, Maxim Emelyanychev takes the Orchestra across the Highlands to Inverness (1 July), Findhorn (2 July), and Blair Atholl (3 July) performing classical favourites including Mozart’s Symphony No.20.
Conductor Lucas Macias presents a programme that puts wind players firmly in the spotlight with SCO Principal Clarinet Maximiliano Martín and Principal Bassoon Cerys Ambrose-Evans performing as soloists in Oban (24 June), Callander (25 June), Kingussie (26 June) and Aboyne (27 June).
The SCO will perform under the direction of Bogdan Božović in Stirling (6 August), Greenock (7 August) and Forfar (8 August), with Mozart’s ‘Turkish’ Violin Concerto No.5 being a highlight of the programme, followed by Stephanie Gonley directing three orchestral masterpieces in Linlithgow (11 September).
The SCO Chorus brings spiritual and intimate sound worlds to Edinburgh (19 June) and St Andrews (20 June) as they perform Duruflé’s Requiem and more.
The SCO Strings then invite audiences to experience an array of cello classics led by SCO Principal Cello Philip Higham in their tour to Arbroath (10 June), Torry (11 June), Fraserburgh (12 June) and Nairn (13 June).
The SCO Wind Soloists visit Cumnock (29 July), Kirkcudbright (30 July), Annan (31 July), and Kelso (1 August) presenting a concert featuring works by Jonathan Dove, Mozart and Gounod.
During this year’s summer tour, the SCO will also participate in Healing Arts Scotland (15-19 June), a bi-annual celebration highlighting the role of the arts in improving health and wellbeing. During 2026 Healing Arts week, the SCO perform their relaxed and interactive concert for children under five, ‘Big Ears, Little Ears’, in Dundee (17 June) and bring their popular Dementia- Friendly Concert to Glenrothes (18 June).
The SCO led by Maxim, will close the East Neuk Festival (05 July) alongside soprano Anna Dennis, concluding their rich summer of activities until Edinburgh’s festival Season in August!
Tickets for the Summer Tour are on sale now via www.sco.org.uk
While some venues include a ticket levy, the regular SCO concessions apply to all Summer Tour concerts:
18 and under, go FREE. Under 26s / Students / Universal Credit £6 People with disabilities half price, essential companion goes FREE.
SCO’s Summer Tour 2026 is kindly supported by Eriadne & George Mackintosh and Claire & Anthony Tait.