| Held in the month of July or August each year, the | | | | Majesty's Theatre in addition to churches and local |
| Aberdeen International Youth Festival is a two week | | | | cummunity locales such as Queen's Cross Church. |
| event that showcases the artistic talents of the | | | | The Aberdeen International Youth Festival's extensive |
| world's youth in all its unbridled splendour. Attracting | | | | programme includes classical music events, song |
| over 30,000 visitors it is also one of Scotland's premier | | | | recitals, ballet performances, modern and traditional |
| cultural festivals which also secures the participation of | | | | dance items, symphony orchestras, world music and |
| over a thousand youth performers from seventy plus | | | | even jazz ensembles. The most popular item on the |
| countries across the globe. | | | | programme is perhaps the revolutionary youth opera |
| Created in the late 1960's according to the visionary | | | | production named Opera Garden which has |
| concept of the Music Director of the Midland Youth | | | | performed such cult classics as The Magic Flute, Don |
| Orchestra Blyth Major and the Chairman of the | | | | Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Carmen and The Turn of |
| International Youth Foundation Lionel Bryer, this former | | | | the Screw in past festivals. |
| orchestral festival has now turned into a jam packed | | | | Nearly 50 renowned theatres, dance/music groups |
| celebration of performing arts with over 70 events. | | | | and numerous performing arts academies have taken |
| These include open-air shows, a colorful parade and | | | | part in the festival, making it a cultural melee of |
| other programmes in community settings. Beginning | | | | monumental scale and scope. The event has also |
| with a breathtaking parade the festival opens with a | | | | become a mechanism to create global works of art |
| bang as the vibrant procession makes its way to the | | | | through collaboration and education. Such initiatives |
| opening ceremony at the Aberdeen Music Hall through | | | | include The Dance Lab, Little Larks, The Trad Music |
| the heart of the city. | | | | Project residential music programme and AIYF |
| Highlights include gala occasions in some of | | | | Compose! where budding composers are recognized |
| Aberdeen's most prestigious venues including The | | | | and honoured. |
| Music Hall, The Lemon Tree and of course His | | | | |