Friends of St Cecilia’s Hall and Museum

14/10/2026

This week’s Instrument of the Week is the bugle. The bugle has long been associated with the military, and this example was used by the 92nd Gordon Highlanders!

Want to find out more? Head over to our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects and use the lookup number below!

Pictured: Bugle, Collard and Collard, c.1845. MIMEd 3223.

07/10/2026

*Tries to think of witty quip not already used about drums. Fails miserably*

This week’s Instrument of the Week is the timpani. This particular set is from the time of Mozart, having been created between 1700 and 1750. They are small compared to modern examples and would have been placed on a table when played.

Want to find out more? Head over to our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects and use the lookup number below!

Pictured: Timpani, early or mid 18th century. MIMEd 3327.

06/10/2026

Great concert series, great venues (especially St C’s!)

The Georgian Concert Society is dedicated to the promotion of historically informed performances of the highest standard on period instruments. It organises a regular series of Early Music concerts between October and March in three central Edinburgh venues: Edinburgh New Town Church , Broughton St Mary's and St Cecilia's Hall , a unique oval 18th-century concert hall in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town.

We have a wonderful season lined up this year, please like and follow us for more details in the coming days.

03/10/2026

A musical banana!

Happy Scottish Museums Day!

This year's theme is , and we're representing the letter H with this banana-shaped harmonica! Find out more by visiting the link below or by popping into the museum! You'll find this funky little instrument in the Wolfson Gallery's discovery drawers🍌

https://collections.ed.ac.uk/mimed/record/17742?highlight=banana

Pictured: Harmonica, mid or late-20th century. MIMEd 3819.

30/09/2026

This week’s Instrument of the Week is this clarinet dating to around 1790. This is a B-flat clarinet with corps-de-rechange in A. This instrument was made by one of the most famous and skilled woodwind instrument makers – August Grenser of Dresden.

Want to find out more? Head over to our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects and use the lookup number below!

Pictured: Clarinet, Augustin Grenser, c.1790. MIMEd 5732.

30/09/2026

Lots on in October!

28/09/2026

Volunteers wanted at St Cecilia’s Hall!
Volunteers play a vital role in making St Cecilia's Hall truly accessible. Our volunteering programme not only contributes to the organisation's work, but also offers people a range of benefits and the opportunity to develop new skills.
If you would like to join the team of volunteers at St Cecilia's Hall, then please complete the volunteer enquiry form, and we will get in touch (this is a Google Form link).

Gallery Guides will occupy the galleries and interact with visitors to St Cecilia’s Hall, helping to provide a welcoming atmosphere and to assist the museum team with the day-to-day running of the museum. Volunteers will work in ‘front-of-house’ roles greeting visitors, invigilating galleries,...

25/09/2026

Saturday delights at St C’s tomorrow! Free! No booking required - just turn up!

Join us tomorrow, 26 September, for our Doors Open Day! We have plenty of tours, performances, and fabulous historic instruments for you to see 🙂 See the programme below:

Short tours:
10:40 – Classy clavichords
11:40 – Triumphant trumpets
12:40 – Vibrant virginals
13:40 – Bold bagpipes
14:40 – Funky fiddles
15:40 – Great guitars

Performances and Demonstrations:
12:00 – Musical instrument demonstrations from the Edinburgh Renaissance Band
13:00 – Elspeth McVeigh sings a selection of Thomas Campion and Philip Rosetter songs and Elizabethan Broadside Ballads
14:00 – John Kitchen and the keyboards of St Cecilia’s Hall
15:00 – Edinburgh Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra
16:00 – Mezzo soprano Olivia Makenzie Smith sings a selection of early songs

No booking necessary!

25/09/2026

The hidden gem during and after redevelopment!