Summer Concert 2025
Summer ConcertConductor: Tim Espin
Leader: Cath Cormie
Soloist: Cliodhna Scott - see below
PROGRAMME
Moberg: Sunrise
Mozart: Flute Concerto No.1 in G
Interval
Schumann: Symphony No. 3
Cliodhna Scott - Flute
Cliodhna currently studies with Petri Alanko at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Previously she studied with Lis Dooner (Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Retired) and Katherine Bryan (Solo Flute, Royal Scottish National Orchestra) whilst a pupil at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, where she won both the Lord Clyde Concerto Competition (twice) and the Directors Recital Prize.
In the second year of her undergraduate studies she won all four orchestral apprenticeships offered by the Sibelius Academy; subsequently performing with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Finnish National Opera and the Tapiola Sinfonietta. Following this she has been invited to play professionally with the Finnish National Opera and has been placed on the extras list for all four orchestras.
Cliodhna was hand-picked to participate in the 2024 Encuentro de Música y Academia de Santander - a highly selective festival comprising a month of solo, orchestral and chamber performances in Spain. She performed as Principal Flute in the opening concerts and worked intensively with renowned flutist, Patrick Gallois. In the same year she also successfully auditioned to participate in a collaboration project between the Sibelius Academy and the Royal College of Music lead by Sakari Oramo (Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra) – culminating in performances at the 2024 BBC Proms at The Royal Albert Hall and Helsinki Festival at the Helsinki Music Centre.
She has also acquired a wealth of orchestral experience from her years in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and The National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.
Cliodhna has performed many solo recitals across the UK and Finland, most recently performing at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She is also looking forward to her upcoming performance as soloist with the Borders Chamber Orchestra in 2025.
She has benefitted from masterclasses with many eminent flutists, including Andrea Lieberknecht, Sebastian Jacot, Felix Renggli and Mario Caroli.
Her studies are kindly supported by The Dewar Arts Awards, The Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship Trust and The Cross Trust.
Winter Concert 2025
Conductor: Robert Dick
Leader: Cath Cormie
Soloists: Cath Cormie and Chris Crosby
Wagner: Siegfried Idyll
Bach: Oboe and Violin Concerto
Interval
Beethoven: Symphony No.4
£500 was donated to Macmillan Cancer Support (£90 in audience donations and £410 donated by the orchestra from ticket sales)
Autumn Concert
Autumn ConcertIn aid of RNLI on their 200th anniversary
Conductor: James Young
Leader: Cath Cormie
Soprano: Claire Taylor
Mendelssohn: Overture The Fair Melusine
Vivaldi: String Concerto in D minor (RV128)
Mozart: Ruhe sanft mein holdes Leben from Zaide
Chabrier: 2 movements from Suite Pastorale (Idyll and Danse Villageoise)
Interval
Vorisek: Symphony in D
We donated £500 to the RNLI (£89.39 in audience donations and £410.61 contributed by the orchestra from ticket sales)
Hidden Gems Rediscovered
Borders Chamber Orchestra conducted by Derrick Morgan, Assistant Conductor of the RSNO
Alexandra Mackenzie - Cello
Programme:
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel - Overture in C Major
Franz Joseph Haydn - Concerto for Cello in C Major
Interval
Georges Bizet - Symphony in C
Melrose Music Festival Opening Concert
Programme
Vaughan Williams: Mass in G Minor
A selection of choral works from the Scottish Renaissance
Interval
Mozart: Requiem
A Serenade to Music - Melrose Music Festival Preview Concert
The concert was conducted and presented by Robert Marshall and we were joined by scottish composer and conductor, Sir James MacMillan, who talked about his life and career in music.
Photos and videos can be found on our Photos and videos page
- Borders Chamber Orchestra conducted by Derrick Morgan, Assistant Conductor of the RSNO and featuring professional orchestral harpist Ellie Hetherington
- Ralph Vaughan Williams - Serenade to Music in conjunction with Borders Chamber Choir
- Constant Lambert - Aubade Heroique
- Sergei Rachmaninoff - Intermezzo from his opera Aleko
- Borders Chamber Choir conducted by Robert Marshall
- A New Song - James MacMillan
- Air on a G String - Bach/Swingle
- Benedicam Domino - Robert Johnson
- Serenade to Music - Vaughan Williams in conjunction with Borders Chamber Orchestra
- Melrose Vocal Ensemble
- Lobet Den Herrn - J S Bach
- A Duet in Eight Parts
Bach - St John Passion
Borders Chamber Choir performed the St John Passion on Saturday 30th March 2024 in Melrose Parish Church with 5 professional soloists and accompanied by the Borders Chamber Orchestra.Tom Raskin (Evangelist) is a tenor with the BBC Singers and The Sixteen and has performed many roles both in the UK and abroad
Georgie Malcolm (Soprano) is fast establishing herself as a versatile singer of opera, oratorio and song.
Judy Brown (Alto) is a Scottish singer based in London, singing a wide range of early, classical and contemporary music for mezzo-soprano/contralto. She is an experienced recitalist, consort, opera and oratorio singer.
Chris Elliott (Tenor) is a Lyric Tenor with bases in Scotland, Northumberland, London &
New York. He is best known for opera and oratorio
Jon Stainsby (Bass) is a lyric baritone establishing a varied career in opera, oratorio and recital.
Winter Concert
Conductor: Alison Rushworth
Leader: Cath Cormie
Soprano: Claire Taylor
PROGRAMME
Mozart: Overture to La Clemenza di Tito
Mozart: Aria "Parto, parto ma tu ben mio" from La Clemenza di Tito
Dvorak: Czech Suite Op.39
Interval
Elgar: Serenade for Strings Op.20
Beethoven: Symphony No.2
We had our second concert last Saturday and were delighted to see so many in the audience. Thanks to all our musicians who gave a wonderful performance with only one rehearsal on the afternoon of the concert! Claire Taylor gave a beautiful rendition of the aria “Parto, parto” as well as leading the 2nd violins for the remainder of the concert. Thanks also to our volunteers who provided teas and coffees throughout the afternoon and at the interval, fed the orchestra between the rehearsal and the concert and looked after front of house. We have had some lovely feedback regarding how much both the musicians and members of the audience enjoyed the concert and, in addition, we raised over £1,000 for Marie Curie!
Inaugural Concert
Melrose Parish Church
Conductor: Robert Dick
Leader: Cath Cormie
Mozart: Overture "The Impresario"
Haydn: Symphony No. 101 "The Clock"
Borders Chamber Choir Showcase
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7
Our inaugural concert was a great success with lots of positive feedback from members of the audience and our orchestral musicians. Thanks to Robert Dick, our conductor, who did a brilliant job in getting us to performance standard after only one rehearsal. The Borders Chamber Choir also performed for the first time, singing 4 pieces beautifully, a capella, at the end of our first half. Thanks also to our volunteers who handed out the interval teas and coffees and fed the orchestra between the rehearsal and the concert.
