Cowdray Hall Marks 100 Years With Season Of Music And Stories
Concerts, conversations and exhibitions will explore the hall’s century of creativity.
For a century, Cowdray Hall has been an integral part of Aberdeen’s life, hosting music, dance, and conversations that have shaped memories across generations. This autumn, the hall begins a season-long centenary programme, celebrating its place in the city.
Opened in September 1925 by King George V and Queen Mary, the hall was gifted to Aberdeen by Annie, Viscountess Cowdray. Architect Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, who also designed the Art Gallery, created a space that has since welcomed a range of events, from orchestral performances to local dance lessons.
Many Aberdonians recall learning to waltz or tango under Madame Isabel Murray, a teacher remembered as much for her character as for her teaching skills. Stories like these underline the hall’s place in everyday life, far beyond its formal events.
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Spotlight on history and connection
The centenary programme launches on 13 September with a panel discussion chaired by writer Alistair Heather. It links two anniversaries: Cowdray Hall and the National Library of Scotland. At its centre is Songs and Fancies, Scotland’s first printed book of secular music, published in Aberdeen in 1682.
This rare edition, on loan from the Library, will be on display in the gallery. Panellists will explore how collections like these still inspire creativity centuries later.
Later in the month, the hall opens its doors for The Big Birthday Bash, a free day of music featuring local performers both in the building and in Union Square. Weekly Lunchbreak Concerts return on 11 September, continuing the series that has long offered a midday pause for workers, students, and anyone with a free afternoon.
Evelyn Glennie returns
One of the highlights comes in March, when percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie returns to the hall that shaped her early career. In conversation with journalist Fiona Stalker, she will reflect on her life in music and her connection to Aberdeen.
She said, “The Cowdray Hall has always held a special place in my heart, for its wonderful acoustics and its sense of history and community.”
The season is not just about nostalgia. Alongside international names such as the Dunedin Consort, the programme also includes appearances by Fiona Kennedy and Joyce Falconer, grounding the celebrations in North East traditions.
A hundred years on, Cowdray Hall is still where music and memory meet. Its centenary season shows how tradition and fresh ideas continue to share the same stage. The full programme is up now at AAGM.
