Join Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral for a talk by Sir James MacMillan, one of the world’s most successful living composers, and Scotland’s best known Catholic musician.

Sir James MacMillan has managed to bring his deep-rooted Catholic faith, and the overt Catholicism in his music, into the secular realm in a uniquely successful way. As a globally acclaimed composer, and as the pre-eminent Scottish composer of his generation, his concert music is broadcast and performed throughout the world. As a conductor, he travels the globe working with some of classical music’s top ensembles. In 2014 he founded The Cumnock Tryst arts festival in his childhood town, and he was awarded a knighthood for services to music in 2015. In 2021 he was named Patron of Music of our own St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in Edinburgh.

In his talk, Sir James will explore how chant, as the music of Faith, has influenced the history of music. It’s a rare opportunity to hear insights from one of the world’s most acclaimed classical music composers, and one of the Church’s great musicians.

We are delighted to celebrate the choral music of Paul Mealor, Welsh musician of international acclaim and composer for the Royal Wedding and the Coronation of King Charles IlI.

Join Paul Mealor, one of the world's most performed living composers, and the Schola Cantorum of St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, for a unique performance of Mealor's choral music. During the concert Paul will talk to director of music Michael Ferguson about the sources of inspiration for his music, and the process of composing his acclaimed works.

Tickets are £16 and available from the Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite, and on the door. Friends of the Cathedral are invited to a post-concert drinks reception with Paul Mealor and the Schola Cantorum.

This event is part of the Sacred Arts Festival 2023. Proceeds from the concert are in support of the Festival of the Sacred Arts and the musical life of St Mary's Catholic Cathedral.