The East Neuk Festival is a chamber music festival that takes place over five days at the end of June/beginning of July in the area known as the East Neuk

East Neuk

The East Neuk or East Neuk of Fife is an area of the coast of Fife, Scotland, which is geographically ill-defined but nonetheless stirs local passions....

 of Fife

Fife

Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...

, in the south east corner (neuk) of Scotland.

History

Established in 2005 it was the brainchild of Donald MacDonald, chairman of Scottish Chamber Orchestra and founding artistic director Svend Brown.

Venues and Artists

The festival concerts take place in a range of venues including churches in villages such as St Monans, Crail

Crail

Crail ; ) is a former royal burgh in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland.-History:Crail probably dates from at least as far back as the Pictish period, as the place-name includes the Pictish/Brythonic element caer, 'fort', and there is a Dark Age cross-slab preserved in the parish kirk, itself...

, Kilconquhar, Kilrenny

Kilrenny

Kilrenny is a village in Fife, Scotland. Part of the East Neuk, it lies immediately to the north of Anstruther on the south Fife coast....

 and Cellardyke

Cellardyke

Cellardyke is a village in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. The village is to the immediate east of Anstruther and is to the south of Kilrenny.- History :...

 as well as the larger Holy Trinity Church in St Andrews

St Andrews

St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....

. Events have also take place in more unusual venues in the region such as Scotland’s Secret Bunker

Anstruther

Anstruther is a small town in Fife, Scotland. The two halves of Anstruther are divided by a small stream called Dreel Burn. Anstruther lies 9 miles south-southeast of St Andrews. It is the largest community on the stretch of north-shore coastline of the Firth of Forth known as the East Neuk,...

 and an aircraft shelter at RAF Leuchars

RAF Leuchars

RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...

.

Musicians and ensembles join together in residencies for practically the duration of the Festival playing core chamber music repertoire alongside new commissions, contemporary works, jazz and world music. Storytelling, poetry, literature, exhibitions, films and other art and installation projects also feature.

Musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is Scotland's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh. One of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. The SCO appears...

 play an important part in the festival.

Other Performers have included conductor/pianist Christian Zacharias

Christian Zacharias

-Music career:Zacharias studied piano with Irene Slavin and Vlado Perlemuter in Paris. He won the Geneva Competition in 1969 and the Van Cliburn Competition in 1973. After winning the Ravel Competition in Paris in 1975, he launched an international career...

, violinist Alexander Janiczek and writer Dr Richard Holloway

Richard Holloway

Richard F. Holloway is a Scottish writer and broadcaster and was formerly Bishop of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church....

, the Alban Berg Quartet

Alban Berg Quartet

The Alban Berg Quartett was a string quartet founded in Vienna, Austria in 1970, named after the famous composer Alban Berg.-Members:- Beginnings :...

, Skampa String Quartet, Belcea Quartet

Belcea Quartet

The Belcea Quartet is a string quartet, formed in 1994, under the leadership of violinist Corina Belcea.-History:The quartet was formed while its members were studying at the Royal College of Music in London. Whilst there, they were coached by the Chilingirian Quartet...

 and Leipzig String Quartet, the Doric String Quartet, Elias String Quartet and Royal String Quartet.

Awards

East Neuk Festival received the Royal Philharmonic Society

Royal Philharmonic Society

The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...

Award for Audience Development in 2007 and in 2008 was shortlisted by the Scottish tourist industry for a Thistle Award.