HCO Concert on 9th Of May

Concerts

HCO concert 9th of May 26

Highland Chamber Orchestra returns to the Crown Church, Inverness on Saturday, 9th May 2026 for a programme of luminous textures and enchanting narratives.

Under the baton of conductor James Ross, the evening pairs Debussy’s Petite Suite with Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite (Ma mère l’Oye). This combination allows the orchestra to explore the height of French Impressionism, moving from the “galant” dances of Debussy to the vivid, fairytale-inspired imagery of Ravel.
The centrepiece of the concert features the acclaimed harpist Abigail Millar Todd, performing Reinhold Glière’s Harp Concerto in E-flat major. Composed in 1938, this concerto is celebrated for its sweeping, Romantic lyricism and technical brilliance, particularly in its intricate theme and variations.
  • Date & Time: Saturday, 9th May 2026 at 7pm
  • Location: Crown Church, Inverness
  • Soloist: Abigail Millar Todd (Harp)
  • Conductor: James Ross
  • Programme:
    • Glière: Harp Concerto
    • Ravel: Mother Goose Suite
    • Debussy: Petite Suite

 Soloist Abigail Millar Todd

Abigail Millar Todd is a harpist from the north of Scotland. She began her musical journey at age 8 through traditional Celtic music through the Fèisean nan Gàidheal. At 12 she started attending Aberdeen City Music School where she began her study of the concert harp under Alina Bzhezhinska Lazorkina. She became a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland a year later and went on to attend Douglas Academy and Chetham’s School of Music before studying under Isabelle Perrin at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Abigail continued her studies under Gabriella Dall’Olio at Trinity Laban, while developing a name for herself as a freelancer- working with orchestras such as the Bergen Philharmonic and Stavanger Symphony Orchestra; performing at the Oslo Jazz Festival; directing multi-disciplinary shows, and working with pop and jazz bands and artists such as Fieh, Heidi Vogel, Olivia Morreale and Ine Hoem; writing, publishing and recording folk music. She and Zoë Rasmussen have a flute and harp duo, playing not just classical music but exploring contemporary improvisation and meditation. Abigail is in the process of recording an album of traditional music with fellow Scottish violinist Zoe Hodi.

She has gained a reputation as an engaging soloist, transcribing core piano repertoire for the harp, recently having given recitals at the Reform Club, St Mary-le-Strand, Gallery Marquess Mayfair and the 1901 Arts Club in London.