News Story
As we celebrate the festive period with our 10th Festival Session, we reflect on this year’s Sessions.
In our third year of partnership with NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts we've brought even more world-class music into hospitals and healthcare spaces. Our NHS Festival Sessions continue to move listeners and spread joy. Bringing International Festival musicians into NHS settings ensures that we reach a broader audience and provide access to life-changing art.
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Our 2025 NHS Festival Sessions brought musicians from the International Festival beyond the concert hall and into hospitals. Our fantastic partners and performers included musicians from Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, Aurora Orchestra, NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, our Rising Stars of Strings, Kinnaris Q and Nicola Benedetti.
it was quite honestly one of the most rewarding, heart-warming, wholesome afternoons of our professional lives... it was for everyone in one space, and it allowed everyone the same opportunity to pause, be in the moment, be lifted from their current mindset and be equals in a room for a moment.Aileen Reid, Kinnaris Q
Each NHS Festival Session is presented by Lucy Drever, our Discovery & Participation Associate Artist, who introduces each piece of music to the audience.
It has been so wonderful to do another year of NHS Festival Sessions! It's been so powerful to see the connections that have happened during world-class music making. My favourite memories from 2025 have been the moments after the music has finished; the conversations that then happen because of the music, and the reactions of joy, tears and laughter. It's such an amazing privilege to have these moments, and to connect with the incredible patients and fantastic musicians.Lucy Drever, our Discovery & Participation Associate Artist
Lucy Drever, Discovery & Participation Associate Artist
© Aly WightWe’re immensely proud to have engaged 1,724 people as part of the Sessions, playing 923 minutes of music in clinical wards and public hospital spaces. The impact of live music on health and wellbeing is well documented. Research* shows the benefits of music in clinical settings for patients and their families, staff and for therapeutic interventions of patients with mental health conditions. In bringing musicians into healthcare settings, we can extend the joy of the Festival beyond our venues and support the health and wellbeing of patients, families, NHS staff and volunteers.
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Not easy for staff who work shift patterns to be able to confirm attending arts events so engaging in the workplace is so beneficial and enriching. It gives you that time to sit back and just allow you to see the woods from the trees. Take a break, breathe.Senior Research Nurse
As 2025 draws to a close we’re already looking ahead to another year of Music Sessions. In partnership with NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts, we’ll continue to connect amazing musicians with people in healthcare settings. We’re excited to keep breaking down barriers to cultural participation and sharing world-class performances beyond our venues.
Discover the Joy of Music
We’ve gathered a handful of uplifting songs performed during this year’s Festival Sessions to keep you in high spirits this December. This initiative is supported by The Stevenston Charitable Trust.
* Music Therapy in Mental Health for Illness Management and Recovery by Michael J. Silverman (2022)
© Mihaela Bodlovic