Contemporary music quartet Ensemble Haar plays works by North East composers to open soundfestival 2026.
Ensemble Haar open soundfestival 2026 at Cowdray Hall on Thursday 22 October, with the concert running from 12:45pm to 1:30pm. It's a lunchtime slot, so it's one you can fit in over a break rather than committing your whole evening. There's also a pre-concert talk at 12:00pm if you want to hear a bit of context before the music starts.
The programme is built around new work by North East composers. The names on the bill are Lliam Paterson, Kristian Rasmussen, John De Simone, Helen Grime, Pixie Nishina and Gemma McGregor, and the set brings them together in one go. It's a good way to hear a handful of different voices from the region in a single sitting, rather than having to track them down one by one.
Ensemble Haar is Aberdeen's newest contemporary music collective, a quartet of saxophone, violin, cello and piano led by composers Lliam Paterson and Kristian Rasmussen. They describe their focus as programming works by composers with strong links to Aberdeen and the North East, with the aim of highlighting the breadth of musical talent the region has to offer. This performance fits that right in the middle.
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It's also the opening of soundfestival 2026, one of Europe's leading celebrations of new music, co-curated by composer and conductor Pete Stollery and directed by Fiona Robertson. The festival runs for ten days across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, with more than 30 concerts, recitals, workshops and installations. This particular afternoon is presented in association with Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums. Entry is free.
