Nevis Ensemble closes following ‘funding challenges’

Scottish orchestral group Nevis Ensemble has today announced that it will be closing its doors, effective immediately. In a statement released by the board of trustees, the ensemble cites ‘funding challenges’ as the reason for this decision.

The news follows the launch of the organisation as the first orchestra in residence for Glasgow-based arts centre Platform and a partnership with Lochend Community High School, which came with a planned relocation to the centre and surrounding area. The news also halts a new partnership with dementia support charity Town Place, just one week into a proposed four-week residency.

In a statement released today the ensemble’s board of trustees said: ‘As a small organisation with a big heart, we are proud to have had an audience of almost 200,000 people across Scotland, as well as more than one million online during lockdown, and changed the perceptions with musicians themselves on what they can do for our communities. Sadly, this is where the Nevis Ensemble story ends. Following severe funding challenges, Nevis Ensemble is no longer able to deliver its activities.’

The statement prompted an outpouring of support on social media, with the Royal Philharmonic Society tweeting: ‘Nevis Ensemble has brought huge energy and joy to communities across Scotland, vibrantly proving classical music's power to enliven every setting we create for it… May we all find ways to carry its spirit forward.’ The Musicians' Union also tweeted: ‘We are deeply concerned at the news that, in the face of severe funding challenges, Nevis Ensemble have now ceased trading and all Nevis Ensemble activity has been halted with immediate effect.’

Founded in 2018, Nevis Ensemble aimed to bring classical music to as many people as possible through almost 700 performances in imaginative locations including supermarkets and mountain summits as well as many workshops, and musician development sessions. The ensemble won the Scottish Award for New Music in 2019 and 2020, the ISM Award for New Music in Covid Times in 2021 and was shortlisted for the Classical:NEXT Innovation Award last year.

The orchestra appointed its first assistant artistic director, Derrick Morgan, in August last year and welcomed 19 musicians to its Fellowship development and training programme. Morgan tweeted: 'Heart-wrenching. We were doing so much good and yet the axe has fallen. Please have us all in your thoughts as 26 of us deal with sudden unemployment.'