Youth Connections

Whether it’s in schools, venues or in our Festival home at The Hub, we ignite curiosity and creativity and raise aspirations for children and young people of all abilities and life experiences.

Through our projects and workshops, we connect with children and young people to support their skills development and nurture their passion for music, opera, theatre and dance. In turn, children and young people help us to bring new and diverse perspectives around the future of the International Festival.

Join our Youth Collective

Are you 16-18, passionate about music and want to connect with the Edinburgh International Festival? Our Youth Collective is running for its second year.

Download our information pack to find out more.

Read a blog from our 2024 Youth Collective member, Daisy Gallacher.

Applications close Monday 1 December.

Apply now

Art of Listening

Art of Listening is our flagship project which introduces Primary 7 pupils aged 10–12 to classical music and the International Festival through song and live performance. Each year, thousands of pupils take part in this two-hour workshop at The Hub, the home of the Edinburgh International Festival. This workshop is offered free of change and includes coach travel, ensuring there are no barriers for schools to participate.

Pupils are guided through the listening experience by a professional opera singer, accompanist and facilitator, learning to engage their imaginations, develop stronger listening skills and respond creatively.

Young Musicians Pass

From world-class orchestras at Usher Hall, to breathtaking soloists, singers and instrumentalists at The Hub and The Queen’s Hall, our music programme has something to inspire all young, passionate musicians. Each year we give away hundreds of free tickets to young Scottish musicians and singers.

Find out more

Discover Projects

Our Discover Projects are offered for free to secondary school pupils and are an annual commitment to creating pathways to each of our artforms.

Discover Opera

Discover Opera introduces pupils aged 13-18 to one of our main-stage operas through an interactive, potted version performed in their school by our team of artists. We have brought a range of operas to life in schools, including The Magic Flute, Carmen and Orpheus and Eurydice, offering pupils the opportunity to then see the full main-stage production for free during the Festival.

Discover Music

Discover Music is an opportunity for secondary school pupils to experience live music in the International Festival. Pupils studying music have filled the Usher Hall to see world-class orchestras such as São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra prepare for their Festival performances.

Discover Dance

Discover Dance is an annual opportunity for young people to discover dance in the Festival.

We have brought young dancers to see Assembly Hall and Grupo Corpo and collaborated with Scottish Ballet to bring dance students from schools and Edinburgh College to Mary, Queen of Scots, with follow-up workshops exploring the choreography.

Discover Theatre

Discover Theatre gives pupils studying drama the chance to experience inspiring live performance in the Festival. To support their drama studies, Higher and Advanced Higher Drama classes have productions including The Outrun and Faustus in Africa, with access to resources to deepen their knowledge and understanding.

Youth Collective

The Youth Collective are a group of passionate young people aged 16-18 who work closely with us to help shape how young people experience the International Festival. Throughout the year, they met with our staff and artists, developing their professional skills and deepening their understanding of the Festival. The Youth Collective helps foster a deeper culture of listening and understanding with young people, built on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Youth Collective have advised on our Young Musician’s Pass, connected with Carnegie Hall’s NYO2 Youth Orchestra and co-created our third Youth Takeover Day, bringing together young people from across Edinburgh to explore the Festival’s theme, The Truth We Seek.