Edinburgh International Festival launches Rising Stars call out

Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) has launched applications for the 2025 edition of its Rising Stars programme. The programme, which offers early career musicians the chance to appear on the festival stage, will welcome applications from woodwind musicians for the first time.

Now in its third year, the Rising Stars programme provides participants with tailored mentorship, networking opportunities, and experience of performing at the International Festival. This year’s cohort, which will include 26 woodwind and string musicians and voice artists, will be mentored by composer and clarinettist Mark Simpson and violinist and festival artistic director Nicola Benedetti.

The call out is open to pre-professional woodwind quintet players (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn) and string players (violin, viola, cello, double bass) of conservatoire level standard. It is also inviting applications from pre-professional singers who will have the chance to take part in a series of rehearsals and masterclasses led by pianist and coach James Baillieu. Former Rising Star participants will also appear at the 2025 festival, with the 2023 emerging string cohort joining Nicola Benedetti on the Usher Hall stage for a Tribute to Menuhin in August.

The programme will culminate in public performances at The Queen’s Hall, Usher Hall and The Hub, which will host an interactive concert, with pieces and performers selected at random by audience members for a spontaneous, unrehearsed performance. Additional performance opportunities will be offered for performances in the Usher Hall series, including roles for the sopranos and mezzo-sopranos in a concert performance of Puccini’s Suor Angelica, opportunities to sing alongside the Edinburgh Festival Chorus with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and in the Festival’s closing concert for a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah alongside the Edinburgh Festival Chorus with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Participants will also get the chance to perform in an NHS setting as part of EIF’s Discovery and Participation work.