Over the course of a proposed four-month residency from June through September this year Pianodrome CIC, in partnership with an array of Scottish cultural institutions will offer performers and audiences a first taste of what it will be like to have a new world class cultural hub with excellence and accessibility at its core in the heart of our world heritage city.

The new custom-built Pianodrome Amphitheatre is a 10 metre-diameter circular structure of tiered seating incorporating over 40 pianos that are past their play-by date. The Pianodrome was commissioned as a result of a relationship with St. Mary’s Music School and will spearhead community and heritage engagement during the development phase of the new National Centre for Music.

The newly constructed Pianodrome Amphitheatre will have its world premiere as part of the Hidden Door Festival, featuring a full program of music, theatre, dance and spoken word events. The culmination of a seven year creative partnership with Hidden Door, the joint venture is all set to breathe life into the grand and ornate Calton Hill landmark that has sat largely empty since 1968. A special programme of performances is also planned for Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August. Both lineups are still to be announced.

Building on previous successes with hundreds of performances and thousands of visitors and volunteers through the world’s first ‘Grand Pianodrome’ at the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens (Fringe 2018), The Pitt, Leith (Fringe 2019) and Leith Theatre (November 2019) and more recently at the 10 new interactive public piano sculptures of the ‘Piano Trail’ (Leeds International Piano Competition September 2021) Pianodrome will host a full spectrum of drop-in events, workshops and performances for all ages, abilities and cultural perspectives over the course of four months.

Peter Thierfeldt, project manager for the National Centre for Music bid said: “It’s such a good fit to have a young, creative and dynamic organisation like Pianodrome involved at this formative stage of the National Centre for Music. This custom-built amphitheatre will be a welcoming new community and heritage engagement space within the Old Royal High that will create a sense of wonder and fun for audiences and musicians alike. Pianodrome work with a range of partners, some of whom might not consider a building like the Old Royal High or its location, as a place for them. During the proposed ‘Resonancy’ it will be a pleasure to hear musicians of all abilities take to the stage, and I am particularly looking forward to performances by the pupils and faculty from St Mary’s Music School.”