Edinburgh–Brno Cultural Exchange: A Story of Music, Friendship, and Shared Vision

Skotsko.co.uk
1 day ago
3 min read

Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge and Deputy Mayor of Brno Filip Chvátal in Usher Hall

The idea for the Edinburgh–Brno cultural exchange began quite naturally—through music and friendship. When Lucie Šnajdrová, manager of the Moravian Autumn Festival and the Brno Philharmonic, visited Edinburgh in December 2024, she met with Veronika MacLeod, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic, and shared her passion for both cities. She spoke about the festival’s opening concert: the Scottish Chamber Orchestra performing in Brno in September 2025.

Lucie Šnajdrová also informed Veronika MacLeod about the Brno Philharmonic’s upcoming concert at Usher Hall in Edinburgh, on Sunday 19th October, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. As they spoke about these concerts, they began to notice striking similarities between Brno and Edinburgh: both are friendly, cultural university hubs of similar size, each crowned with a castle on rocky hills. Castle Špilberk’s largest hall is even named Ogilvie, with a Scottish connection behind it.

Both cities are currently building new concert halls—and remarkably, both have chosen the same acoustician: Yasuhisa Toyota, founder of Nagata Acoustics, renowned for the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Inspired by these shared values, they brought these observations to the municipalities, and they embraced the idea. The Mayor of Brno, Markéta Vaňková, invited Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge to visit during the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s performance. Coincidentally, David Waddell, Senior Manager for Cultural Partnerships at the City of Edinburgh Council, was also travelling to Brno for the Eurocities conference, held the following day.

Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Director of Brno Philharmonic in Besední dům, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra concert

First meeting in Brno, Deputy Mayor of Brno and Lord Provost of Edinburgh

In Brno, they met with Deputy Mayor Filip Chvátal and Marie Kučerová, Director of the Brno Philharmonic, and enjoyed cultural events. On 22^nd it was a Scottish evening and opening of the Festival Moravian Autumn, and 23^rd September 2025 the Scottish Chamber Orchestra performed at Besední dům in Brno. Conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev, with Robert Jordan on bagpipes, they performed: – Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor – Peter Maxwell Davies – An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise – Beethoven – Symphony No. 7 in A major. This concert was part of a tribute to Sir Charles Mackerras, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth. Mackerras had deep ties to Czech music and Brno, and the festival honoured his legacy by inviting orchestras he once led—including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

At the Eurocities conference, both Brno and Edinburgh signed The Call to Action—a public commitment to fostering sustainable and socially inclusive cultural development. It was a meaningful moment that affirmed the value of artistic collaboration and civic friendship.

On Sunday 19th October 2025, The Lord Provost of Edinburgh and the Deputy Mayor of Brno met again, this time at Edinburgh’s City Chambers. Deputy Mayor Filip Chvátal and the Director of the Brno Philharmonic also enjoyed a tour of the capital with Veronika MacLeod and Dagmar Gillespie.

In the evening, together with many members of the Czech community in Scotland, they attended a stunning performance by the Brno Philharmonic at Usher Hall. The programme included: – Janáček – Lachian Dances (Lašské tance) – Gershwin – Variations on “I Got Rhythm” – Brubeck – Brandenburg Gate Revisited – Dvořák – Symphony No. 7.As an encore, the orchestra added a selection of Slavonic Dances.

The evening concluded with all distinguished guests meeting the renowned conductor Dennis Russell Davies, who had led the entire concert. The delegation was also joined by Gavin Reid, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, whom they had met a month earlier in Brno.

Chief Conductor of Brno Philharmonic Dennis Russell Davies (in the middle)

Meeting Chief Executive of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Gavin Reid in Edinburgh (on the right)

Hopefully this is just the beginning of many future collaborations between communities, artists, and institutions. It’s important to show that the Czech Republic is more than just Prague—that Brno, with its rich cultural life, deserves recognition and connection, and that in Brno is deep admiration among their people for Scotland.

Brno Philharmonic in Edinburgh 19. 10. 2025

Special thanks also go to the team at Usher Hall for their warm hospitality; to Monika Koppová and Pavlína Sukupová from the International Cooperation Division – Foreign Relations Department at Brno City Municipality; to Jane Turner and Norma Cuthbertson from the Lord Provost’s Office; to Richard Ježek from Kukscinema for the photo documentation in Edinburgh and Zdeněk Kolařík - photographer in Brno, to Lenka Whyles from The Scotch Whisky Experience and to Beata Skobodzinska, Diversity Officer at the City of Edinburgh Council.