The festival will honour Helen Hopekirk, who was regarded as one of the great concert pianists of her generation.
Born in Portobello in 1856, Ms Hopekirk launched her musical education at a young age, studying piano with George Lichtenstein and composition with A.C. Mackenzie, creating her debut as a soloist in 1874 with the Edinburgh Amateur Orchestral Society.
She created her debut with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in 1878 and performed extensively across Europe. In 1897, she relocated to the United States, where she became a prominent figure in the Boston music scene, performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and teaching at the New England Conservatory .
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Throughout her compositions, Ms Hopekirk frequently incorporated elements of Scottish folk music, drawing inspiration from traditional melodies and rhythms. Her collection 70 Scottish Songs includes piano accompaniments to popular Scottish songs, reflecting her deep connection to her Scottish heritage.
The fundraiser has so far nearly £600 of a £2,000 goal to deliver the festival with concerts, a free piano and organ competition, a masterclass, and a free permanent teaching resource mapping Scottish repertoire for teachers across Scotland.
The concerts will celebrating Ms Hopekirk’s music and feature the world’s leading performers of her work, including Dana Muller, Gary Steigerwalt, Hannah Roberts and the Bubblyjock Collective.
The lecture-recital and masterclass will be delivered on May 20 by Dr Hannah Roberts, one of the world’s leading specialists in Ms Hopekirk’s piano music, while the free, developmental piano and organ competition will take place at St Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh on May 22-23, with Scottish repertoire, and Ms Hopekirk’s music in particular, at its heart.
For more information on the fundraiser, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/assist-bring-scotlands-forreceivedten-piano-pioneer-back-home
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