This June, we’re thrilled to bring our Music for Wellbeing sessions to the V&A Dundee to coincide with Maggie’s: Architecture that Cares, an exhibition celebrating the pioneering work of the cancer support charity.
Scottish Ensemble believes music has the power to enhance wellbeing. Our Music for Wellbeing sessions blend live performance with guided listening and practical mindfulness techniques. These tools are designed to be taken home and used in daily life, helping participants find moments of calm, reduce stress and anxiety, and connect with something outside of themselves.
Since 2017, we’ve been collaborating with Maggie’s, visiting centres across Scotland to share intimate live music experiences that encourage reflection, conversation, and connection. Through listening and discussion, participants are invited to step away from everyday pressures and engage deeply with the music. This has become some of our most meaningful work, and we’re delighted to share it in a new setting at V&A Dundee.
On 18 June, a quartet from Scottish Ensemble will lead three 30-minute sessions at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm. Participants will listen to pieces of varying moods, explore their emotional impact, and engage in conversations with our musicians. These sessions are open to everyone, regardless of musical background or connection to Maggie’s. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience Scottish Ensemble in a more intimate setting, offering a moment of respite amidst the astonishing architecture of the V&A Dundee.
Our partnership with Maggie’s
Maggie’s is dedicated to supporting people living with cancer, including patients, their families, and those who love and care for them. Their centres provide emotional support and practical advice, free to anyone in need, grounded in the belief that the environment itself plays a crucial role. The right space can foster a sense of safety and strengthen people’s ability to cope.
At the end of 2025, our collaboration took a significant step forward: named as Maggie’s Music for Wellbeing Partner, Scottish Ensemble committed to visit all eight Maggie’s centres across Scotland three times a year, enabling us to support even more people through music-making that promotes wellbeing. The V&A Dundee sessions on 18 June offer a rare opportunity to experience this work outside a Maggie’s centre, within one of Scotland’s most extraordinary buildings and alongside an exhibition celebrating Maggie’s unique relationship with architecture and care.