HELLO Summer

The George Hotel Inveraray invites you to their 6 free entry, family and dog friendly music festivals happening in Summer 2024! Find out more at https://www.thegeorgehotel.co.uk/festivals

25th May Bluebell Festival – all weekend long
30th June Dr Hip’s Garden Party
13th July Inveraray Blues Festival
28th July The Loch Fyne Hoolie
10th August Rock the Loch
24-25th August Disconnect Festival

All concerts start at 7pm and last about an hour. Entry is free although there is a retiring collection to help pay for the series.

Walter Blair memorial concert Sunday 29th October Helensburgh Parish Church 7pm Taking part in the concert, are artists who worked closely with Walter, – Pianist Derek Clark – soprano Patricia MacMahon, tenor Jamie MacDougall and trumpeter Mark O’Keefe. We hope to provide a fitting tribute to the man who did so much for music in the church and in the town as a whole. The concert lasts one hour. Entry is free with an opportunity to give a donation as you leave.

26 November 2023 – Catherine Nardiello (piano)
The American pianist stops off in Helensburgh as part of a European tour to present a programme of piano music by Scottish and American composers. Works by James MacMillan, Edward MacDowell, Aaron Copland and Thomas Wilson will be followed by a selection of music to get the audience looking towards Christmas with pieces by Bach, Mendelssohn and Irving Berlin!
17 December 2023 – ‘Come and Sing’ Christmas Concert
All the usual ingredients will be in evidence in this annual event which marks the beginning of the Christmas season for many in Helensburgh – augmented choir, Lomond Brass, guest soloist, but most of all, a chance to join in favourite carols and Christmas music followed by mulled wine and mince pies, all in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support, which as a result of these concerts, since 2014 has benefitted by the sum of more than £30,000
28 January 2024 – Brian Bannatyne-Scott (bass) with Derek Clark (piano)
The Edinburgh-based international bass returns to Helensburgh for a rare complete performance of Schubert’s song-cycle ‘Die Winterreise’ (The Winter Journey) – the first time for almost 20 years that the work has been heard in Helensburgh.
25 February 2024 – Music for Friends 5
Derek Clark is joined once again by a quartet of string players from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera to explore some of the chamber music repertoire designed to be shared with friends. Previous programmes have included major works by Schubert, Schumann, Saint-Saens, Richard Strauss, Vaughan Williams and Dvorak, so come and see what they’ve chosen to present in their 5th visit to HPC!
24 March 2024 – Lomond School
Always a popular event in the Sunday at Seven calendar, the biennial visit of pupils (and staff) from Lomond School will feature a varied selection of music to suit all tastes under the leadership of the school’s Director of Music, Douglas Fleming. Early arrival is recommended!
28 April 2024 – Catherine Smith
Oboist Catherine Smith. accompanied by Derek Clark, presents a programme of music spanning several centuries, and showcasing this versatile member of the woodwind family.
26 May 2024 – University of Glasgow Chapel Choir
Often described as one of the best-kept secrets in Glasgow, the University Chapel Choir regularly presents choral music to a high standard in both concert and liturgical settings. Here is a chance to hear them in Helensburgh, their first visit for several years, under the Director of Chapel Music, Katy Lavinia Cooper, in a programme of choral music to inspire and comfort.
23 June 2024 – Kilted Tenors
For the season finale, we have a return visit from the Kilted Tenors who made such an impression at their first Sunday at Seven appearance three years ago. Expect a wide variety of repertoire -some opera, some traditional Scottish Songs, some songs from the shows– all presented in a relaxed and informal manner. The perfect way (we hope) to end the season!

An exciting Sound Bath event – Holistic Reflections. A wonderful opportunity to quietly lie in the Garden and be immersed in calming soothing sounds. ‘ We blend the clarity of crystal singing bowls with the smooth sacred tones of traditional Tibetan bowls.  Add to that the delicate quiver of the Koshi chimes, the primordial beat of Shamanic drums and you have the relaxing warmth from a bath of sound.’  No water involved at all, other than the gentle babbling from the Geilston Burn.

Booking at geilstonfriends.events@gmail.com Please visit the Friends of Geilston website for more information

All concerts start at 7pm and last about an hour. Entry is free although there is a retiring collection to help pay for the series.

Walter Blair memorial concert Sunday 29th October Helensburgh Parish Church 7pm Taking part in the concert, are artists who worked closely with Walter, – Pianist Derek Clark – soprano Patricia MacMahon, tenor Jamie MacDougall and trumpeter Mark O’Keefe. We hope to provide a fitting tribute to the man who did so much for music in the church and in the town as a whole. The concert lasts one hour. Entry is free with an opportunity to give a donation as you leave.

26 November 2023 – Catherine Nardiello (piano)
The American pianist stops off in Helensburgh as part of a European tour to present a programme of piano music by Scottish and American composers. Works by James MacMillan, Edward MacDowell, Aaron Copland and Thomas Wilson will be followed by a selection of music to get the audience looking towards Christmas with pieces by Bach, Mendelssohn and Irving Berlin!
17 December 2023 – ‘Come and Sing’ Christmas Concert
All the usual ingredients will be in evidence in this annual event which marks the beginning of the Christmas season for many in Helensburgh – augmented choir, Lomond Brass, guest soloist, but most of all, a chance to join in favourite carols and Christmas music followed by mulled wine and mince pies, all in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support, which as a result of these concerts, since 2014 has benefitted by the sum of more than £30,000
28 January 2024 – Brian Bannatyne-Scott (bass) with Derek Clark (piano)
The Edinburgh-based international bass returns to Helensburgh for a rare complete performance of Schubert’s song-cycle ‘Die Winterreise’ (The Winter Journey) – the first time for almost 20 years that the work has been heard in Helensburgh.
25 February 2024 – Music for Friends 5
Derek Clark is joined once again by a quartet of string players from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera to explore some of the chamber music repertoire designed to be shared with friends. Previous programmes have included major works by Schubert, Schumann, Saint-Saens, Richard Strauss, Vaughan Williams and Dvorak, so come and see what they’ve chosen to present in their 5th visit to HPC!
24 March 2024 – Lomond School
Always a popular event in the Sunday at Seven calendar, the biennial visit of pupils (and staff) from Lomond School will feature a varied selection of music to suit all tastes under the leadership of the school’s Director of Music, Douglas Fleming. Early arrival is recommended!
28 April 2024 – Catherine Smith
Oboist Catherine Smith. accompanied by Derek Clark, presents a programme of music spanning several centuries, and showcasing this versatile member of the woodwind family.
26 May 2024 – University of Glasgow Chapel Choir
Often described as one of the best-kept secrets in Glasgow, the University Chapel Choir regularly presents choral music to a high standard in both concert and liturgical settings. Here is a chance to hear them in Helensburgh, their first visit for several years, under the Director of Chapel Music, Katy Lavinia Cooper, in a programme of choral music to inspire and comfort.
23 June 2024 – Kilted Tenors
For the season finale, we have a return visit from the Kilted Tenors who made such an impression at their first Sunday at Seven appearance three years ago. Expect a wide variety of repertoire -some opera, some traditional Scottish Songs, some songs from the shows– all presented in a relaxed and informal manner. The perfect way (we hope) to end the season!

The George Hotel Inveraray invites you to their 6 free entry, family and dog friendly music festivals happening in Summer 2024! Find out more at https://www.thegeorgehotel.co.uk/festivals

25th May Bluebell Festival – all weekend long
30th June Dr Hip’s Garden Party
13th July Inveraray Blues Festival
28th July The Loch Fyne Hoolie
10th August Rock the Loch
24-25th August Disconnect Festival

Scottish Chamber Orchestra Summer Classics – SCO players and audiences always look forward to their concerts with their Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev – as lively as he is entertaining, he invariably brings fascinating insight into the music he directs.

Maxim is at the helm for a concert of much-loved classics this summer: Elgar’s youthful Serenade for Strings and all the tender warmth of Schumann’s Cello Concerto (with SCO Principal Cello Philip Higham), concluding with one of Beethoven’s most popular symphonies, the irrepressibly lively Seventh.

Tickets: £6-£20. Children under 18: Free. Available from the Orchestra website.

The George Hotel Inveraray invites you to their 6 free entry, family and dog friendly music festivals happening in Summer 2024! Find out more at https://www.thegeorgehotel.co.uk/festivals

25th May Bluebell Festival – all weekend long
30th June Dr Hip’s Garden Party
13th July Inveraray Blues Festival
28th July The Loch Fyne Hoolie
10th August Rock the Loch
24-25th August Disconnect Festival

Swim in Loch Lomond and then enjoy a MTB spin and mixed terrain run round Balloch Country Park. There are 3 options to choose from ‘The Wee Beastie’, ‘The Bikeless Beastie’ and the main event ‘The Beastie’:

The Beastie comprises a 750m swim in the Loch, 17k off road cycle (three big laps) and 5k run (two laps), finishing in front of the castle, sounds a lot easier than reality and a challenge for even the most experienced of triathletes.
The Wee Beastie a 400m swim in the Loch, 9k off road cycle (two smaller laps) and a 3km run (one lap). A proper wee toughie and a great way to start of before taking on the full Beastie another time, still a great achievement and not to be taken lightly.
The Bikeless Beastie Aquathon a 750m swim and 5k run (two laps), this year it is the Scottish Aquathon Championship.

Full details and rules of entry at https://www.entrycentral.com/festival/3405

The George Hotel Inveraray invites you to their 6 free entry, family and dog friendly music festivals happening in Summer 2024! Find out more at https://www.thegeorgehotel.co.uk/festivals

25th May Bluebell Festival – all weekend long
30th June Dr Hip’s Garden Party
13th July Inveraray Blues Festival
28th July The Loch Fyne Hoolie
10th August Rock the Loch
24-25th August Disconnect Festival