In the final days of June, Live Music Now Scotland returned to the 49th edition of the St Magnus International Festival — a renowned and vibrant celebration of the arts that has been a cornerstone of Orkney’s cultural life since 1977.
We’ve had the privilege of partnering with St Magnus for over 20 years, and this year was no exception — a joyful blend of high-quality public performance and meaningful community engagement. Wind quintet Prismatic Winds and folk duo Heather Cartwright and Kristina Leesik represented LMNS in this year’s programme, performing in festival venues as well as in settings away from the main stage.
Working closely with the festival team, performances took place in a local care home, a day centre for older people, a housing support service, and at Kirkwall Grammar School, reaching audiences who may not otherwise have access to live music. These concerts, informal and participatory, are at the heart of our work.
Alongside these intimate performances, the LMNS musicians also had the opportunity to partake in the prestigious St Magnus festival itself, gaining experience on larger stages and reaching new audiences. It’s part of Live Music Now Scotland’s commitment to offering emerging artists a rich and diverse professional pathway. As part of this commitment, we are proud to work closely with partner organisations such as St Magnus to ensure our work has both artistic and social impact.
Reflecting on the experience, Kristina Leesik shared:
“We enjoyed it so much! And I’m so happy we got this opportunity through LMNS.”
Kristina very kindly also sent us a few snapshots from the trip — lovely reminders that music does not just happen in big concert halls, but travels across landscapes and into local communities.
We extend our warm thanks to the St Magnus International Festival team, our inspiring musicians, and the communities across Orkney who welcomed us so generously once again.
