A musical partnership that continues to grow
This summer, Live Music Now Scotland welcomed musician Nabani Aguilar and PRISMA founder Morgan Szymanski to Scotland, as our international partnership with PRISMA continued.
The visit was the latest chapter in an ongoing exchange between LMNS and PRISMA. Previous residencies have seen LMNS musicians Isla Ratcliff and Roo Geddes travel to Mexico, with each exchange creating new opportunities to share musical traditions, ideas and cultures while connecting with new audiences abroad.
exploring musical traditions
Through song and the traditional Mexican jarana, Nabani shared the sounds of the Son Jarocho and Son Huasteco traditions, creating space for musical dialogue with Scottish traditional music. Alongside Morgan, Isla and Roo, the musicians explored connections between their musical cultures through performance and collaboration.
Sharing music with communities
Making live music available to audiences that might not otherwise have access to it is at the heart of both organisations, and it is this idea that’s shaping the partnership between LMNS and PRISMA. While each exchange offers exciting possibilities for musicians to connect, play and collaborate, it also creates opportunities to share their music with people in community settings.
Alongside public performances at venues including the National Galleries of Scotland, the artists have performed in care home settings, sharing live music with residents and staff. Previous exchanges in Mexico have also seen LMNS musicians perform and lead music-making workshops with school-children, reflecting both organisations’ shared commitment to reach people of all ages through live music.
Whether in a gallery, a care home or a school yard, these performances celebrate the power of music and the way it can connect people across cultures and generations.
We’re grateful to the British Mexican Society for supporting this international exchange.
Photos: Katie Blair Matthews