Prismatic Winds are one of Scotland’s most exciting emerging ensembles. At one point or another the group have all studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where they were first formed in 2013. Within the first year of performing together the group was highly commended at the Conservatoire’s prestigious Governor’s Chamber Music Prize.

In 2016 the group were appointed as associate tutors for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland’s Wind Training Ensemble, which led to performances at the NYOS office launch party and to his Lord High Commissioner at Holyrood Palace. NYOS also sent members of the group to the European Federation of Youth Orchestras to represent NYOS and undertake training in entrepreneurship and business management. The group were then sent to help on a week-long outreach project in Stornoway.

Since 2018, the group has been endorsed by Live Music Now Scotland which has enabled them to perform in a variety of venues and to a varied audience. This includes (but is not limited to) a recital at the Usher Hall, a baby friendly concert working with Aberdeen’s new music hall, the Scottish National Gallery and a dementia friendly concert at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. The Scottish National Gallery commented that the quintet brought “the biggest audience [they’ve] ever had”.

Outside of Live Music Now the group has also worked alongside Enterprise Music Scotland, receiving training in delivering school workshops and implementing poetry with composition. The EMS project saw the group collaborate with composer Elise Haller-Shannon in delivering five workshops spread across two months. Prismatic Winds also performed in Glasgow as part of the 2018 National Chamber Music Day, hosted by Enterprise Music Scotland.