Whitburn Band's participation at the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival has attracted a five-star review in one of Scotland's major newspapers.

The Scottish Open champion was joined by the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS), string group Quatuor Mona, and tenor singer Gwilym Bowen to perform Sir James MacMillan's stunning 'All the Hills and Vales'.

Packed

With the composer in attendance, and in front of a packed audience at the city's famous Greyfriars Kirk, they were conducted by Christopher Bell, Artistic Director of NYCOS. As well as 'All the Hills and Vales', NYCOS performed Macmillan's 'The Culham Motets'.

Susan Nickalls, reviewing for 'The Scotsman' newspaper, was one of many critics impressed by the music making.

In her five-star review, she wrote: "Not only a showcase for international talent, the festival is a reminder of the vast amount of home-grown talent on our door-step and this year's focus across the range of James MacMillan's superlative output for large forces has yielded exceptional treasure."

BBC Scotland's Arts Correspondent Pauline McLean, took to Twitter to add: "Extraordinary concert. So glad to have been there!"4BR

Extraordinary

Meanwhile, BBC Scotland's Arts Correspondent Pauline McLean, took to Twitter to add: "Extraordinary concert. So glad to have been there!"

'All the Hills and Vales Along' is MacMillan's poignant oratorio based on five poems by Charles Hamilton Sorley, who was killed at the Battle of Loos in the First World War in 1915.

Whitburn has now performed at the Edinburgh International Festival for two consecutive years, having played with Lau in 2018.