GREENMILL Primary School pupils and teachers had an exciting trip to London recently where the school’s string orchestra played at the House of Lords on Wednesday July 23.

This was an event organised by The Cumnock Tryst to raise awareness and support for the new festival.

They were joined by the great Scottish percussionist Colin Currie, who with the orchestra and myself, gave the world premiere of my Playing the Skyline.

This was commissioned by BBC Radio 4 and a version of it appears on a broadcast of the same name which went out on Monday July 28. You can access it here; http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04bmxnq The Greenmill musicians will also perform it during the Tryst festival itself, on Saturday October 4. They will be given a special spot in The Future of Brass concert that night in the Old Church in the Square.

The principal performers in that concert will be the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland and they will also be joined by brass players from Cumnock Academy.

This will be an exciting event for those who love brass music, and for all of us who will gain enormous pride and satisfaction at seeing the young musicians of the area, whether brass or strings, playing at a high level.

Remember that there are ticket discounts, available only for local residents and under-26s.

This is a concert for all those proud mums, dads, grandparents and friends who will get a great thrill at seeing their young ones involved in this new and prestigious venture!

I was delighted when both the Cumnock and Doon Valley Minerals Trust and The Hunter Foundation decided to support us in this event, and in the other Tryst projects which aim to help local schools and communities.

This year the Scottish Chamber Orchestra will perform for schoolchildren at Cumnock Academy on Friday October 3, and local singers will get the chance to work with some of the greatest choir trainers in the land at the Boswell Centre in Auchinleck on Saturday October 4.

Don’t miss these wonderful opportunities! Some of the events have already sold out, so don’t delay in booking your tickets.

Another lovely feature of the Tryst is the part the Dumfries Arms Hotel will play as the Festival Club.

After the main evening concerts, festival-goers can retire for a relaxing drink and chat in the hotel function room where they will be entertained by various different musicians, the Dunaskin Doon Silver Band, the CAMPS choir and young traditional musicians from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Check the programme for details; http://www.thecumnocktryst.com/festival-club/ The Dumfries Arms will also be the venue for the unique Violin Variations concert given by Ian Peaston on the evening of Friday October 3. Ian grew up in Cumnock and makes his one violin sound like a 20-piece band!

Earlier that day there will be scope to chew the fat with some local figures in The Cumnock Hour, where I will be joined by poet Rab Wilson, ex-Aberdeen goalkeeper Derek Stillie and chaired by that virtuoso (and sometimes terrifying!) interviewer Jim Naughtie.

What is Cumnock culture? I’m sure we will cover a lot of ground…