News Story
The Hub, Queen’s Hall, Festival Theatre, and Usher Hall are some of our best-known venues at the International Festival. Over the years, countless audience members have taken their seats at these venues. You may have enjoyed a majestic orchestral performance at Usher Hall, a dynamic play at the Festival Theatre, or an intimate recital of chamber music at the Queen’s Hall.
When it comes to Edinburgh’s Festival venues, The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary doesn’t immediately spring to mind. However, last August, The Royal was one of four NHS Lothian Hospitals which played host to 15 special International Festival performances.
Patients, staff and volunteers were transported into a tranquil realm as the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) performed in hospital gardens and selected wards. Throughout the course of the fifteen performances, over 1,000 staff, patients and visitors were provided musical moments of respite within their busy days.
The backstory
Coming out of the pandemic when restrictions were still high, we couldn’t bring people back to concert halls, so we brought the International Festival to people instead. In 2023, we partnered with NHS Lothian Charity’s Tonic Arts programme to continue this work and bring our residency orchestra’s into NHS settings.
Our residency orchestra model aims to make time and space for ensembles to deepen their connection with Edinburgh’s communities. This year our three residencies are the Bamberger Symphoniker, Ilumina Ensemble and the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Residency doesn’t just mean in the concert hall, but in our communities. Some residents cannot come to our concerts, so we can bring the music to them. This project aims to take the International Festival beyond the concert hall and into the community.
It doesn’t stop there
Continuing from last August’s success, we are increasing visits to hospitals across the Lothians. In addition to pop-up performances from International Festival artists in August, monthly ‘Festival Fridays’ moments will happen year-round.
"Any musician performing with us in a festival Friday would be someone you would expect to see on our stages in August." - Caroline Donald, Head of Discovery & Participation
This programme is already underway. In May, we took musicians from the Philharmonia Orchestra to St John’s Hospital in Livingston, and in June we brought musicians from Scottish Chamber Orchestra to Royal Hospital for Children & Young People to perform for patients and staff.
The power of the Arts
Music is known to reduce stress and can even alleviate pain. Staff and patients reported feeling calmer and less distressed during the London Symphony Orchestra performances last August, and all audience members reported a positive experience on their wellbeing.
For many patients that was the highlight of their week...Some shared tears of joy or nostalgia, praising the artists long after they were gone, and recounting the experience to family and friends who visit.Therapeutic Activities Manager at the Western General Hospital
Unlike the formality of our Usher Hall and Queen’s Hall concerts, these musical moments are kept intentionally informal, perfect for a staff member to have a well-deserved break from the busy wards or a patient to have a minute of respite from their treatment. Festival Fridays are designed to give an unexpected burst of joy into peoples’ days.
Made possible thanks to our supporters
The pilot performances at NHS Lothian settings last year were made possible thanks to donations from members and supporters of the International Festival, who have also enabled us to expand to reach five NHS Lothian hospitals this year.
Our Pay It Forward donation campaign helps bring the magic of the International Festival to those who otherwise couldn’t attend, including NHS patients and staff, D/deaf and disabled people, and young musicians and singers aged 8-18.
To find out more about what a difference your support can make to Edinburgh’s communities, visit our Donate page.
