PREPARATIONS for Cumnock Tryst 2017 started even before last year’s event got underway.

Artistic director Sir James MacMillan said: “With the musicians we are bringing to Cumnock we really have to be pinning them down, sometimes a couple of years in advance.

“I kind of know who is coming next year and even some for 2020, not all of them, but that is the way it has to be as generally the big names have to be approached early.

“That was the case for this year with the Scottish Ensemble, Colin Currie and the choir from Westminster Cathedral. They are one of the best choirs in the world and this will be the first time they have visited Scotland.”

One tradition of the Tryst is getting out into the community, visiting schools and encouraging local talent, and Sir James confirmed this will continue.

He said: “We were at a lunch club in Muirkirk on Tuesday performing for older people and will be going to schools.

“The Scottish Ensemble will come with me into Greenmill Primary and Auchinleck Academy to do workshops all through the summer. Children from those two schools will perform, as will our usual two schools - Hillside and Riverside.

“There is also a Come And Sing Day on June 17, which will be a fun event in a relaxed setting which will be open to as many people who want to see what it is all about. We are also having a day with choirs from the three Ayrshire councils for a special choral day with Eamonn Dougan.”

Continuing Sir James’ commitment to support local talent, there will be the first performance of a special commission from Auchinleck-based composer, Michael Murray.

Michael, from Auchinleck, is a night watchman at an Ayr shopping centre who has written music every day since he was a teenager.

Sir James said: “Michael lives for writing music. I remember him at Cumnock Academy bringing me some amazing musical scores. We lost touch but I always wondered what became of him and it turns out he has been doing his own self-teaching.

“I came across him when he was a traffic warden at one of the Trysts, but he comes to all the events and is a volunteer. We gave him a chance to write something a few years ago for the Hebridean Ensemble and it was as good as anything played by up-and-coming composers.”

Special guests and visiting musicians helped Sir James launch this year’s Tryst at Dumfries Arms Hotel on Tuesday evening.

“From the beginning the Dumfries Arms Hotel has been an important venue We are delighted to help the historic venue celebrate its 300th anniversary,” Sir James added.