31 AUG - 4 SEPT 2025
The residency was all the more remarkable because of the lengths young artists and audiences went top articipate. In the face of inclement wind, rain and ferry cancellations, audiences journeyed from different parts of the world for one of Scotland’s annual cultural highlights.
Mendelssohn on Mull 2025 welcomed some of our largest ever audiences in seven concerts over five days across Mull and neighbouring Iona where local people expressed how much they look forward to the concert as a key event for the community within the calendar.
In a milestone first-during a very busy start to the school year- Mull Music Makers performed alongside the Maxwell String Quartet in Craignure as part of Mendelssohn on Mull, having enjoyed coaching from a very special guest, the Quartet’s violinist George Smith! Mull Music Makers showcased their musical skills for audiences who had travelled from all over the world for the festival.
The Maxwell StringQuartet dazzled in their second year as Artistic Directors alongside their young artist colleagues with an audience member remarking “I could’ve gone to any of these concerts this week in a concert hall in London or Edinburgh or Glasgow or Paris.” In a poignant reminder that world-class musical artistry should be enjoyed by everyone everywhere, our exceptional musicians who also perform on prestigious platforms internationally, presented inspiring concerts in Mull’s community halls and churches.
Audiences heard a string quartet repertoire tour-de-force - everything from Haydn and Mozart to Shostakovich and the festival’s namesake, Mendelssohn, alongside Maxwell String Quartet’s own arrangements of traditional Scots music.
“The Maxwell StringQuartet are basically the best to learn from and what makes this so different and valuable is we actually play concerts and work on pieces as equals on an equal footing”
Young Artist Participant, 2025
Now an award-winning, internationally respected musician, as the violist in the Maxwell String Quartet, Elliot Perks reflected on how formative his experience was as a participant in Mendelssohn on Mull in 2010 and 2014.
“There’s many courses and festivals in the music world but very few that actually allow you to not only rehearse and learn music alongside fantastic artists and mentors but also to spend individual time with them, talking about their lives and their careers and what it actually means to be a musician”
Mendelssohn on Mull alumni and Maxwell String Quartet violist, Elliott Perks
Given the rare opportunity to repeat repertoire in different locations across the beautiful islands of Mull and Iona, it was remarkable to witness how young artists grew in experience, confidence and artistry from one performance to the next.
“A superb scheme”
“Truly impressive”
“Vital that such opportunities exist for musicians of the future”
Audience Members
The only thing left todo was look forward to next year’s Mendelssohn on Mull, 13 - 17 September 2026!
