THE Lammermuir Festival is set to return to East Lothian later this year with its 15th programme, despite recent funding challenges.

The festival will bring together a programme of talented musicians for one week in September, with 37 concerts across 15 venues in the county.

The centrepiece of the 2024 programme is Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles, a returning favourite from last year’s festival, which will be performed by choral group Tenebrae in the Concorde hangar at the National Museum of Flight in East Fortune.

Scottish pianist and writer Kenneth Hamilton. Image: Andrew Bi

Haddington’s Corn Exchange will receive a visit from Scottish Opera, performing operatic comedy Albert Herring, by Benjamin Britten. Directed by Daisy Evans, the cast includes Susan Bullock as Lady Billows and Glen Cunningham as Albert Herring.

Concerto Copenhagen, one of the world’s top baroque orchestras, will make its Scottish debut with four concerts highlighting 17th-century masters.

Some of the festival’s most popular artists returning to perform at the 15th festival include the Maxwell Quartet, Dunedin Consort, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Gesualdo Six and Hebrides Ensemble.

The festival also gives audiences a chance to explore East Lothian, with venues spread through the county including Humbie in the south, Dunbar and Stenton in the east, and Dirleton and North Berwick on the coast.

American pianist Jeremy Denk. Image: Shervin Lainez

Despite its popularity, with last year’s festival welcoming more than 6,000 visitors throughout the week, recent funding challenges put the event in jeopardy after it was turned down for financial support by Creative Scotland.

Featuring 36 performances from September 7 to 16, last year’s event was funded by reserve funds, with donations being accepted to help finance this year’s iteration.

After an open letter was signed by more than 350 musicians and supporters last year, including violinist Nicola Benedetti, a spokesperson for the festival recently confirmed that Creative Scotland had agreed to help fund the festival for at least a further two years.

James Waters, chief executive and co-artistic director, said: “These last 12 months have been some of the hardest we’ve experienced in over 30 years of working and running arts festivals.

“But they have also been some of the most magical as our audiences, our friends across the industry, our patrons and supporters have all come together in voice and, where they could, with financial support to ensure that this year’s festival could go ahead.”

Musicians Roman Rabinovich and Diana Cohen 

This year’s festival invites young people in East Lothian through its doors to enjoy and participate in the arts with new audience initiative Front Row, developed in collaboration with East Lothian Instrumental Services and with support from Scops Arts Trust.

One-hundred 12-18-year-old students will have the opportunity to attend a concert free of charge. They will be invited to attend rehearsals and meet the artists, and two will be offered the chance to see behind the scenes and get a taste of life working on the festival.

In addition to the Front Row programme, Lammermuir Festival is offering school students aged seven to 18 free tickets, and full-time students in further education half-price tickets.

Muir Russell, festival chair, said: “Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and friends, and with Creative Scotland’s contribution, we can go forward to provide another unique, rich cultural experience of the kind that Lammermuir has become famous for.”

Taking place September 5-16, performances are also set to take place in churches in Aberlady, Gladsmuir and East Linton.

See lammermuirfestival.co.uk for more information.