Variations Scotland String Quartet Challenge 2026-27

Variations Scotland is happy to announce its first String Quartet Challenge, open to amateur musicians aged between 18 and 40 based in Scotland. 

Variations has been running a weeklong chamber music course with the Edinburgh Quartet in residence in Ullapool each July over the past 20 years. The winners of the String Quartet Challenge will be awarded a place at Variations 2027, with all tuition and accommodation costs covered, worth over £1000 for each individual. Challenge runners up will be offered free one-day workshops with the Edinburgh Quartet.

The overall purpose of the Challenge is to motivate more younger amateur string players to come together and play on a regular basis. The Challenge is not open to professional musicians or music conservatory students – it is for amateurs. However, conservatory alumni who do not consider themselves professionals can apply.

The Challenge invites interested groups to submit recordings made on a smartphone of two pieces: any movement of a Haydn string quartet and any other contrasting movement from a quartet from the romantic era or later. The four finalists will play a quartet of their own choice at a public concert in Perth on 27th February 2027, when the winner will be selected.

Key dates:

• The deadline for String Quartet Challenge submissions is December 31st 2026.
• The Finalists concert will take place on the afternoon of 27th February 2027 at St John’s Kirk in Perth
• Two additional one-day workshops provided for the runners up will take place at the Marryat Hall in Dundee on Sundays 7th and 21st March 2027
• Variations 2027 – July 24th -30th 2027 in Ullapool
  
  

For more information, please visit the Variations Scotland website or contact:

Gordon Adam | Chair, Variations Scotland
gordon@imediaassociates.org
info@variationsscotland.co.uk