Sunday 19th July 7.30 pm
Rebecca Gilliver (cello) with Dina Duisen (piano)
Celebrating the start of the Deeside Cello Project Festival week, Rebecca Gilliver will present a fantastic programme including both the extraordinary Kodaly sonata for solo cello and together with Dina Duisen, the Kodaly sonata for cello and piano. The programme will also feature works by Delius, Moeran and Frank Bridge.
Monday 20th July 7.30pm
The Phoenix Centre, Newton Dee, Aberdeen
Young Artist 2026 with Dina Duisen (piano)
In the warm, welcoming theatre at the Pheonix Centre, our latest Young Artist Nia Williams and pianist Dina Duisen will present a varied and entertaining cello and piano recital. Judging by the previous years’ concerts, this will be a real treat from an excellent up and coming young cellist.
Keep checking back here and details of this year’s award recipient and their programme will appear in due course!
Nia Williams, the Aboyne Cello Festival Young Artist 2026, is a young Welsh cellist based in London who has recently graduated with a Masters with distinction from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is setting out on an exciting performing and teaching career.
In the friendly, intimate setting of the Phoenix Centre at Newton Dee, Nia’s programme will include two absolute classics of the cello repertoire – Beethoven’s early but portentous G minor sonata and Brahms’ epic late sonata in F major. In addition she will also play a short and beautiful piece by the established British composer, Cheryl Frances-Hoad and the sparkling variations by Martinu on a well known theme by Rossini.
Dina Duisen is much in demand as a recitalist and duo player all over the world. She is resident pianist for Prussia Cove Masterclasses and her duo collaborations include regularly working with Nicola Benedetti.
Wednesday 22nd July 7.30pm
The Three Cellos and Friends
This year the three cellos Philip Higham, Rebecca Gilliver and James Halsey will be joined by Joshua Lynch, cello, in the first half, and Sally Halsey, piano, in the second half. Their programme will feature, amongst other things, operatic gems by Strauss, Puccini, Bizet and Mozart!
An enormous treat for fans of the cello, the three cellos will indulge their love of chamber playing and take the audience on a memorable journey for the evening.
Entertaining and friendly introductions complement the wonderful music-making and this special concert is guaranteed to leave the audience with smiles on their faces!
Saturday 25th July 7.30pm
Philip Higham (Cello) and Sasha Savaloni (Guitar) Recital
In a first for our series of concerts, we are delighted to welcome Sasha Savaloni, winner of the most prestigious guitar competitions in Europe including the Sevilla International Guitar Competition, alongside Philip Higham (international soloist, chamber musician and principal cello of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra) in what promises to be a beautiful recital in this beautiful venue.
There will be a varied programme of music for cello and guitar including Schubert’s wonderful Arpeggione Sonata and 6 Canciones Populares Españoles by De Falla. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Sunday 26th July 7.30pm
The Giant Cello Ensemble
As the culmination of eight days of Cello festivities and hard work on the 20th anniversary Cello Festival Summer School, based in Tarland, the Giant Cello Ensemble will be full of joie de vivre! Always incredibly popular, this concert mixes music to suit all tastes, played at the highest level by professionals and conservatoire students joined by local cello-playing enthusiasts.