Edinburgh Royal Mile Chamber Music Series The Harris String Quartet

St Giles Cathedral is delighted to present the debut of the Edinburgh Royal Mile Chamber Music Festival. This captivating and esteemed new concert series will showcase a remarkable array of chamber music performances throughout 2024, highlighting timeless classical and romantic works by composers such as Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Haydn, and others.

The series will bring together an impressive roster of talented musicians from the UK and abroad, offering a unique chance to experience some of the finest chamber music in the breathtaking, candlelit setting of St Giles Cathedral. Enhanced by the recent addition of a Steinway Grand Piano, this promises to be an unforgettable musical journey. Located at the center of the Royal Mile, St Giles is surrounded by numerous bars and restaurants, making it easy to round off your evening in style.

**Featured Artists: The Harris String Quartet**
– Emma Donald – Violin
– Serena Whitmarsh – Violin
– Eilidh Randall – Viola
– Katy Bell – Cello

**Concert Repertoire:**
– Haydn – String Quartet Op. 76 No. 1 (G Major)
– Mendelssohn – String Quartet No. 1

**Artist Biographies:**
Emma Donald, hailing from the Highlands, began her violin journey at the age of 8. Her upbringing nurtured a dual passion for classical and traditional Scottish music, which she continues to pursue with equal dedication. A graduate with first-class honors in music from the University of Edinburgh, Emma is now a full-time freelance musician based in Glasgow. Under her creative alias Emma Jean, her original works have been performed by the Fyrish String Quartet, and she co-composed the score for “The Farewell Glacier,” a poetic performance on climate change by Nick Drake, aired on BBC Radio 3 in February 2024.

Serena Whitmarsh, a violinist from Glasgow, pursued her undergraduate studies under Yossi Zivoni at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and earned a Master’s in performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2021, studying with Daniel Pioro and Joseph Swensen. With a deep-rooted passion for chamber music, particularly quartets, Serena maintains a dynamic freelance career in Scotland. She frequently performs with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Ballet Orchestra and recently played the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with Glasgow Sinfonia in November 2024.

Eilidh Randall, originally from Fife, discovered her love for music early on and began her formal training at the Royal Conservatoire