We are delighted that Scottish Opera has been honoured with the esteemed Classical:NEXT Innovation Award at a ceremony held on 14 May in Berlin. The coveted recognition celebrates our ground-breaking Breath Cycle programme, which helps people with lung conditions through singing and song-writing workshops.

The Classical:NEXT Innovation Award, determined by nominations from renowned international journalists and thought leaders, and selected by the Classical:NEXT community, recognises organisations and projects that push the boundaries of classical music through innovative approaches, audience engagement, and artistic excellence.

Scottish Opera’s Breath Cycle was lauded for its pioneering work supporting people with respiratory conditions, including its innovative response to the COVID-19 pandemic by pivoting to help those suffering from Long COVID. The programme was represented at the ceremony by Jane Davidson MBE, Director of Outreach & Education at Scottish Opera, and composer Gareth Williams.

Scottish Opera shared the Innovation Award spotlight with two other recipients: OPERA APERTA (Ukraine), a contemporary opera laboratory in Kyiv known for exploring new styles in music, theatre, and interdisciplinary practices; and Clásica No Convencional (Chile), which brings classical music to unconventional spaces through immersive experiences.