We are delighted to announce that Variations 2027 will run from Saturday 24th to Friday 30th July 2027 at the Macphail Centre, Ullapool..
Making Chamber Music in Scotland
Making Chamber Music in Scotland
Variations is back in Ullapool again between the 18th an 25th of July. This year there is a rare opportunity to hear two of Schubert’s greatest chamber music works in successive concerts – the mighty G major quartet and the sublime C major string quintet. Both are packed with exquisite themes and ferocious passion. Schubert knew he had not long to live and his response was to compose some of the finest music in the classical repertoire.
The two programmes are supplemented by works of Haydn, Telemann, Silvestrini and Scotland’s Sally Beamish. They are played, as always, by the course tutors the wonderful Edinburgh String Quartet, plus Rosie Staniforth (oboe) and Clare Juan (cello).
Variations has now confirmed the String Quartet Challenge – please see the website home page for more information.
The Variations String Quartet Challenge
In 2026, Variations hopes to launch the Variations String Quartet Challenge, to encourage more younger amateur musicians to form quartets and play together regularly.
This is an open competition for 18 – 40 year olds. They will be invited to submit recordings of a couple of movements (one of them will be a test piece) from which the Edinburgh Quartet will draw up a list of 4 finalists, and also identify quartets that show promise. The finalists will perform an entire quartet each at a public concert in April 2026, with the Edinburgh Quartet as judges, The winning quartet members will be given a free pass to Variations 2026 in Ullapool. There will also be several follow up one day workshops with the Edinburgh Quartet for selected Challenge participants.
The Hugh Fraser Foundation has kindly committed funding to support the Challenge. Other funding applications are in the pipeline, and by the end of 2025 we hope to confirm the Challenge will go ahead. Anyone who might consider participating – watch this space and the Variations Facebook and Instagram pages for more details or email info@variationsscotland.co.uk so we can send you an application form once the Challenge is confirmed.
Variations 2026 will run from Saturday 18th July to Friday 24th July 2026 and booking will open in November 2025.
Booking for Variations 2025 is now closed and we expect booking for Variations 2026 to open in January.
We are delighted to announce that booking for Variations 2025 is now open and we hope to see you in Ullapool in July.
We are pleased to announce that the Variations 2025 chamber music course will be held at the Macphail Centre, Ullapool from 19th to 25th July next year. Booking opens in January 2025.
Booking for Variations 2024 is now closed and booking for Variations 2025 will open at the end of next January.
Booking for Variations is now open and will close on Wednesday 1st May 2024.
© 2026 Variations Scotland
Photography by Will Copestake
Variations is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Charity registration number SC043152