In partnership with Creative Scotland, Chamber Music Scotland has announced the recipients of the Classical EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) Development Fund for 2024/25. The fund supports innovative projects aimed at promoting greater inclusivity within Scotland’s classical music sector, providing artists and organizations the resources to expand diversity, equality, and opportunity within their practices.
This year, four exceptional projects have been selected to receive funding, each focusing on addressing underrepresentation and creating new pathways for diverse voices in the arts. The initiatives, led by Scotland-based musicians, will highlight a range of topics including music mentorship, cultural narratives, and accessibility in music creation.
1. Sonia Allori: Exploring Descriptive Creative Captioning
Sonia Allori, a Scottish-Italian composer, performer, researcher, and music therapist, will lead a project focused on descriptive creative captioning in contemporary classical music. Through her work, she aims to develop new models of practice that will make both scored and improvised contemporary music more accessible to a broader audience. Allori’s project will offer innovative ways to present music, breaking down barriers for people with diverse learning needs and abilities.
2. Atzi Muramatsu: Music Mentorship for ASLN Musicians
Atzi Muramatsu, the Creative Director of Sonic Bothy, is a multi-disciplinary composer whose projects span concerts, dance, poetry, and more. His initiative will develop a music mentorship programme aimed at addressing the lack of opportunities for musicians with Additional Support for Learning Needs (ASLN). Through this mentorship, Muramatsu hopes to empower disabled musicians, providing them with the tools to take ownership of their artistic development. The programme aligns with Sonic Bothy’s long-term goals to promote inclusivity and empower marginalized musicians.
3. Anna Michels: Podcast on Underrepresented Scottish Composers
Anna Michels, a Scottish-Dutch pianist with an international career, will create a podcast mini-series to document the lives and works of two underrepresented Scottish composers, Marie Dare and Isobel Dunlop. Both composers, who have contributed to Scotland’s classical music scene, are not widely known today. Through her project, Michels hopes to shed light on their contributions and bring their music to new audiences.
4. Justyna Jablonska: Exploring Immigration Through Music
Justyna Jablonska, a Polish-born cellist based in Edinburgh, will focus on researching intersectionality and immigration through music. Collaborating with Scotland’s Polish and Roma communities, her project will involve in-depth interviews and creative co-productions, offering personal narratives that speak to the experiences of migration and the impact of cultural identity. This project will further explore how classical and non-Western music can intersect to tell stories of lived experience in a contemporary context.
The Impact of the Fund
The Classical EDI Development Fund is an important resource in the drive for greater inclusivity in Scotland’s classical music sector. As Paul Tracey, Chief Executive of Chamber Music Scotland, stated, the fund is vital in helping individuals and organizations work toward achieving greater diversity, enriching classical music, and fostering a more vibrant future for the sector.
Creative Scotland’s Emma Campbell, Music Officer, echoed these sentiments, highlighting how the fund helps to open up new opportunities, amplify underrepresented voices, and inspire new perspectives in the classical music community. “By supporting innovative ideas and fostering collaboration,” she said, “this initiative will contribute to a more inclusive and vibrant classical music community.”
A Bright Future for Scottish Classical Music
With the support of the National Lottery and Creative Scotland, these four projects represent a commitment to nurturing a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive classical music community. The fund, which has been running since 2024, serves as a stepping stone for artists who aim to break down barriers and create meaningful connections through music.
For further details on these exciting projects, visit Chamber Music Scotland’s website or follow their updates on social media.