43rd Fife Festival of Music
27th January-7th February 2025
Once again, the airwaves of Fife were set ringing at the start of 2025 with the 43rd Fife Festival of Music in full swing from 28th January to 7th February in Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy.
During the first week, in Dunfermline at the Vine Conference Centre, performances were given by school students of all ages from P1 to S6, showing off their well-rehearsed work and providing a great variety of music making. Audiences and adjudicators alike were thrilled and excited by the singing and playing.
For week 2, the focus and locus moved to Kirkcaldy where much use was made of the Adam Smith Theatre, with action in the main auditorium and the Beveridge Suite. Despite it being our second year there after the refurbishment, many visitors to the theatre were keen to witness the building’s new look and new feel and were not at all disappointed by what they saw and heard. Kirkcaldy’s Old Kirk also became a Festival venue – see below.
There were many solo instrumental and vocal performances from all ages. A continuing major feature of the Festival is the community element: this year 11 adult choirs, 9 large ensembles and a handful of smaller ones over four evenings proving that music encompasses all and is a vital part of life for so many. As in Dunfermline, secondary schools brought their well-rehearsed music to Kirkcaldy to perform to audiences of parents/carers, friends and interested members of the community.
2025 saw a welcome return of entrants to the Organ class which took place in the Old Kirk allowing many to witness and hear the magnificent Gern organ there.
The Festival hub was to be found at the Theatre from where all operations were controlled and where the Festival shop attracted audiences and passers-by.
The second week Friday evening (7th February) included the annual reception for Festival Friends and encompassed the closing event, the Young Musician (21 and under) Final, the competitors comprising the winners of the Open solo instrumental classes. Adjudicators Frances Gillies and Frikki Walker praised the young musicians and commented on the extremely high standard of performance.
The winner of the 2025 Fife Festival of Music Young Musician class, presented with the Glen More Trophy and the Band Supplies Community Benefit prize was Daniel Armstrong from Blebocraigs on ‘cello, an S6 student at Madras College (Daniel having also competed in the event as winner of the Open piano class). All finalists gave excellent performances providing a thoroughly entertaining evening for the audience.
FFoM returns in 2026, 26th January – 6th February.
Graeme Wilson, FFoM
07875 412972
During the first week, in Dunfermline at the Vine Conference Centre, performances were given by school students of all ages from P1 to S6, showing off their well-rehearsed work and providing a great variety of music making. Audiences and adjudicators alike were thrilled and excited by the singing and playing.
For week 2, the focus and locus moved to Kirkcaldy where much use was made of the Adam Smith Theatre, with action in the main auditorium and the Beveridge Suite. Despite it being our second year there after the refurbishment, many visitors to the theatre were keen to witness the building’s new look and new feel and were not at all disappointed by what they saw and heard. Kirkcaldy’s Old Kirk also became a Festival venue – see below.
There were many solo instrumental and vocal performances from all ages. A continuing major feature of the Festival is the community element: this year 11 adult choirs, 9 large ensembles and a handful of smaller ones over four evenings proving that music encompasses all and is a vital part of life for so many. As in Dunfermline, secondary schools brought their well-rehearsed music to Kirkcaldy to perform to audiences of parents/carers, friends and interested members of the community.
2025 saw a welcome return of entrants to the Organ class which took place in the Old Kirk allowing many to witness and hear the magnificent Gern organ there.
The Festival hub was to be found at the Theatre from where all operations were controlled and where the Festival shop attracted audiences and passers-by.
The second week Friday evening (7th February) included the annual reception for Festival Friends and encompassed the closing event, the Young Musician (21 and under) Final, the competitors comprising the winners of the Open solo instrumental classes. Adjudicators Frances Gillies and Frikki Walker praised the young musicians and commented on the extremely high standard of performance.
The winner of the 2025 Fife Festival of Music Young Musician class, presented with the Glen More Trophy and the Band Supplies Community Benefit prize was Daniel Armstrong from Blebocraigs on ‘cello, an S6 student at Madras College (Daniel having also competed in the event as winner of the Open piano class). All finalists gave excellent performances providing a thoroughly entertaining evening for the audience.
FFoM returns in 2026, 26th January – 6th February.
Graeme Wilson, FFoM
07875 412972
Young Musician 2025 Daniel Armstrong
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Daniel Armstrong with Adjudicators Frances Gillies and Frikki Walker
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Finalists:
Back row: Tara McGhie – saxophone, Wormit; Alex Harrower – electric guitar, West Wemyss; Pavel Szulc – piano, Kinghorn Front row: Eilidh Dowall – trombone, Dunfermline; Briana Ayanouvi – percussion, Kirkcaldy; Frikki Walker – Adjudicator; Daniel Armstrong – ‘cello and piano, Blebocraigs; Frances Gillies – Adjudicator; Hazel Brandt - Clarsach, Edinburgh; Beth Aitken – Flute, Kirkcaldy. |
