St Andrews Music Participation

11/03/2026

Last May, the StAMP Children’s Choir took part in Beach of Dreams, a UK-wide coastal arts festival exploring the unique heritage, cultures, and futures of our coastlines in the face of the climate emergency with the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.

They sang a specially commissioned piece, Tidelines, composed by Jay Cappercauld with words by Niall Campbell, inspired by Tide Line, a newly created sculpture by artist Julie Brook on the Fife Coastal Path in Cellardyke.

The sculpture was created from locally sourced stones and constructed at low tide, tracing the natural contours of the rock bed, engaging directly sea.

In March 2025 inspired by the sculptural work Tide Line by artist Julie Brook, the StAMP children's choir came to sing a newly commissioned work by composer…

08/03/2026

Happy International Women's Day! To all the women leading StAMP activities, thank you for your contributions and keeping music thriving in our communities.

24/02/2026

Calling all string players!

We have a few spaces left on our come and play session with the Maxwell Quartet THIS Saturday, 28 February, 2-5pm at the Laidlaw Music Centre, Queen’s Terrace, St Andrews.

Suitable for all levels, we will be work-shopping and playing the quartet’s gorgeous arrangements of some traditional Scottish and Irish tunes. Music is available in advance.

£15 (adults)
£10 (Laidlaw Music Centre members)
FREE (Children/young people/students)
Please sign up via the registration form here and follow the payment link:

https://forms.office.com/e/ByJEbnMQYB
For further information please contact: [email protected]

21/01/2026

Come & Play with the Maxwell String Quartet
Saturday 28 February, 2-5pm
Laidlaw Music Centre, Queen’s Terrace, St Andrews

We are super excited to present a come and play workshop with the Maxwell Quartet. Suitable for string players (violin, viola, cello, double bass) of ALL standards, we will be workshopping and playing the quartet’s gorgeous arrangements of some traditional Scottish and Irish tunes. Music is available in advance.

£15 (adults)
£10 (Laidlaw Music Centre members)
FREE (Children/young people/students)

Please sign up via the registration form here and follow the payment link:
https://forms.office.com/e/ByJEbnMQYB

For further information please contact: [email protected]

13/01/2026

We're delighted to be working with Dysart Colliery Silver Band on a new work for brass thanks to ABRSM's Composer Mentoring Programme. We can't wait to hear the end result later in the year.

Dysart Colliery Youth Band, supported by Dysart Colliery Development Band, are excited to be working with a celebrated young Cypriot composer, Daniella Nassar, on a special piece of music commissioned through the ABRSM and St Andrews University. The music will be developed collaboratively over the next few months culminating in a performance in May or June. Daniella’s previous work spans across film and television, concert music and dance and in the words of Emmy winning Writer and Director, Erin Cramer “The score she composed was beautiful and elevated the film. In short she is a complete pleasure to work with”.

The piece will be written to allow Youth Brass Band players at an early stage of their playing career to perform alongside more experienced players. It is planned that the piece will incorporate local folk music to represent the proud heritage of the band in the Dysart/Kirkcaldy area. The young Dysart players are delighted to be involved in the project. They are really looking forward to being part of a large brass band performing an exciting piece of music, with a part tailored to their ability.

13/01/2026

Like so many across the global musical community, we are reflecting on the enormous contribution John Wallace made to so many aspects of musical life. He was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music by the University in 2014 and, from 2015, served as our Honorary Professor of Brass, working closely with colleagues in the Music Centre to develop brass playing at St Andrews and across Fife through our StAMP brass programme.

St Andrews held a special place in John’s life. As a student at Buckhaven High School, he performed as a concerto soloist in the Younger Hall some sixty years ago, conducted by the then Director of Music, Cedric Thorpe Davie.

Those who worked closely with John at the Music Centre found him to be utterly extraordinary. He had a rare ability to take a piece of music, or any musical opportunity, and make it something more — something ‘extra’. John gave his time generously and without reservation: teaching one-to-one lessons, lecturing on Musical Leadership, co-designing outreach initiatives and concerts, and mentoring staff with insight and kindness.

All of us at StAMP and the Music Centre will work to ensure that John’s inspiration, vision, and humanity continue to shape our work. We send our deepest sympathies to his family — Liz, Esme, and Cosmo.

08/01/2026

We're delighted to be working with the Jenny Lee Library in Lochgelly on our new project Connecting Voices - gentle singing sessions for everyone. Come in from the cold and warm up your voice with some fun songs.

Well be in the library on Saturday mornings between 11.30am-12.30pm on 10, 17, 24, 31 January and 7 February.

Hope to see you there.

03/10/2025

Did you know that we run a singing group for people living with dementia and their carers? Memory Makers Fife takes place on Tuesday afternoons in the Laidlaw Music Centre, St Andrews.

Our next block of activity starts on 4 November. Full details below. Email [email protected] for more information or to sign up. Free to attend.

29/09/2025

The early bird discount for our Piano Day on 9 November ends tomorrow (30 September)! Sign up here to qualify:
https://forms.office.com/e/iYVhGfe3WD

StAMP Piano Day, Sunday 9 November, 10am-4pm

Calling all young piano players! We’re running a day of activities specially designed for pianists aged 7-14 years. Sessions will include playing duets, exploring scales, music and movement with Dalcroze, techniques for sightreading, a Do-organ construction project and so much more! Register an interest on the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/iYVhGfe3WD
£30 per person, or book by 30 September to qualify for the early bird discount of £20.

25/09/2025

Our StAMP Children's Choir have been spotted 'Groovin' Around' on the ABRSM Stage YouTube page. 🤩🙌🎷🎺🎹

See the whole performance here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_bPJ3teLNg

What a great performance! Many thanks to composer Richard Michael, conductor Claire Innes-Hopkins and the University of St Andrews Jazz Scholars.

24/09/2025

The Laidlaw Music Centre StAMP youth ensembles are up and running and new members are welcome.

St Andrews Brass (P5-P7) Monday 6-6.30pm (beginners) 6.30-7:30pm (returners)
StAMP Children’s Choir (P3-P7) Tuesday 5-5.45pm
StAMP Youth Orchestra (P6-S6 with 2 years of playing experience) Wednesday 5.45-6.45pm
StAMP Rock, Pop & Tech (S1-S6) Thursday 5-6.30pm

The groups are a great way to develop musical skills in a fun, supported environment and make new friends. All groups take part in StAMP concerts and other performance projects. We are especially keen to hear from young wind players who might be interested in joining our youth orchestra.

For further information and session dates please email: [email protected]
Or register here: https://forms.office.com/e/35KJLVCQpK
Cost: £80 for the year.

22/09/2025

StAMP Piano Day, Sunday 9 November, 10am-4pm

Calling all young piano players! We’re running a day of activities specially designed for pianists aged 7-14 years. Sessions will include playing duets, exploring scales, music and movement with Dalcroze, techniques for sightreading, a Do-organ construction project and so much more! Register an interest on the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/iYVhGfe3WD
£30 per person, or book by 30 September to qualify for the early bird discount of £20.