Image: Dunard Centre Groundbreaking Ceremony Chair Ronnie Bowie (centre) with partners (left to right) Carol Grigor, Jo Buckly, Sir David Chipperfield. Photo Ian Georgeson.

A string quartet from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) were proud to perform as part of the groundbreaking ceremony celebrations for the Dunard Centre on 1 December, marking the start of the four-year build.

The quartet was made up of: Principal First Violin Afonso Fesch, Second Violin Hatty Haynes, Sub-Principal Viola Francesca Gilbert, and Sub-Principal Cello Su-a Lee. The musicians launched the celebrations as part of the pre-event entertainment, performing music by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Schubert, with the first movement of Haydn's Solo Quartet performed after the opening speech.

The Dunard Centre will be Edinburgh’s first purpose-built concert hall in 100 years and home to the SCO.

Guests, including First Minister John Swinney, singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean and pupils from Broughton Primary School, also gathered on site for a morning of music, speeches and celebration.

Kickstarting a series of speeches from stakeholders and partners, Dunard Centre chief executive Jo Buckley thanked politicians and other guests for attending the ceremony, speaking about her personal focus on ensuring the venue plays a key role in enriching the lives of people across the city.

She said: “It is hard to build a concert hall — but important things are never easy. And what we are building here is not just a concert hall. It is a commitment to people and to community and to the transformational power of culture, which we believe really does change lives.

“This venue will truly be a ‘Hall for All’, creating an open, accessible, and welcoming space in the heart of the city. It will be a place where Scotland’s musical legends will inspire the next generation of artists, giving children their first encounter with a concert hall and allowing them to feel the electricity that comes from live performance."

Speaking at the groundbreaking, First Minister John Swinneysaid: “It’s a privilege to break ground and mark the start of construction of the Dunard Centre. The ‘Hall for All’ is a prime example of public and private investors coming together to invest in exciting, innovative projects that will help to grow our economy and significantly enhance Scotland’s cultural offering."