Performances likely to appeal to a classical audience, concentrating on organisations and events which may have a limited public profile or online presence.
The Inverness Chamber Music Society (musicinverness) enriched the cultural life of Inverness for over 30 years, promoting the enjoyment of classical music through recitals by both well-known performers and emerging talent. In 2024, due to falling audiences and financial pressures, it ceased operating.
musicinverness – the back story
musicinverness started life in 1992 as Inverness Chamber Music Society, a registered Scottish Charity SC024288. Five local musicians wanted to be able to play Schubert’s famous Trout Quintet but soon decided that the poor fish had been drowned and cut into fillets. The preferred option was to engage professional musicians to come to Inverness and give a top-class performance.
The first concert was held in Charleston Academy and given by the Swedish Ygdrassil Quartet who held a residency at Aberdeen University. Various venues were used in the first years of the society until it settled in Inverness Town House in 2002. Several successful seasons were held with internationally known artists until the building was closed for renovation. During that period the Society raised the funds to purchase the Bösendorfer grand piano in 2006 that still graces the Town House platform.
More recently the Society adopted its current name of musicinverness to emphasise the universal attraction of the music being performed and moved to the current venues of St Stephen’s Church and Crown Church, which have a more intimate ambience and are more accessible for patrons with mobility issues.
musicinverness acknowledges with gratitude the support received from Chamber Music Scotland with funds provided by Creative Scotland and the National Lottery.
James Munro
The final concert – a superb recital by the Fibonacci quartet – took place at Crown Church on 23rd April 2024. The charity was formally wound up on 7th May, the remaining funds being divided equally between Inverness Symphony Orchestra (SC047808) and The Agar Trust (SC044645)
Click here to see all recitals from the start of 2023 onwards.</p
This website has a new mission – to highlight performances likely to appeal to a classical audience, concentrating on organisations and events which may have a limited public profile or online presence. The remit is interpreted flexibly, to include jazz, traditional, sacred and other genres – and can include both recitals and participatory events.
- To see what’s coming up, click “Diary” from the menu at the top of this page (on a mobile phone, click the two bars at the top of the page to see your options). You’ll see a brief summary of each upcoming event, listed in date order. Click on the title for more detail.
- To contribute an event, ask a question, or make a comment, click “Contact us”
- To get regular email updates enter your email address in the box at the bottom of this page and click the “subscribe” button. The emails are correct (as far as I know) at the time they are sent, but it’s best check the website as well nearer the date- event details can change.
Music lovers should also check out Eden Court Theatre, which provides an interesting and varied programme of events, some of which sell out well before the performance. It is supported by an excellent website (click here). Liturgical music at Inverness Cathedral can be found here. There’s too much going on on these pages for me to duplicate the full content – but I’m happy to include specific events on request.
Events are featured on this site free of charge.
George Farmer, “webmaster”
Click here to learn more about subscriptions
musicinverness 