The world premiere of a new work by acclaimed Scottish composer Jay Capperauld will be among the highlights of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Big Guitar Weekend as the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The composition, Arachne, for guitar duo will be performed by RCS graduate and BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Samrat Majumder alongside Allan Neave, Head of Guitar and Harp at RCS.

The premiere is part of a milestone year for Big Guitar Weekend, which runs from Thursday 29 October until Sunday 1 November.

Since its launch in 2006, it has become one of Scotland’s leading guitar festivals, bringing together international artists, RCS faculty, alumni and new talent.

Born in East Ayrshire, Jay Capperauld graduated with a Masters in Composition with Distinction from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2014.

Since then, he’s become one of music’s most in-demand voices, with a string of commissions from some of the UK’s biggest orchestras and ensembles and his work performed under the batons of renowned conductors including Martyn Brabbins and Sir James MacMillan, who described him as “one of the most notable composers emerging at the moment”.

Jay has written for the BBC Proms, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. He was appointed as Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s Associate Composer in 2022.

In 2023, he was commissioned by His Majesty King Charles III to compose Schiehallion! for the Honours of Scotland celebrations. His accordion concerto, Galvanic Dances, won the European Composition Award 2025.

Commenting on the premiere of Arachne, Allan Neave said: “It is a fascinating piece with a great narrative.

“Jay has never written for guitar before, so he has brought some fresh approaches to the instrument. He has written a section that sees the player creating the movements and sounds of a spider spinning thread and scurrying across the fretboard. It’s pretty cool.”

Samrat Majumder, who graduated from the Classical Guitar degree programme in 2021, is a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, Classic FM Rising Star and Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship Artist. In 2025, he was named the inaugural Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) 40th Anniversary Artist.

Samrat, who is also an RCS Alumni Ambassador, said: “It is incredibly exciting to be a part of Big Guitar Weekend on its 20th anniversary and to join its Artistic Director, Allan Neave, to premiere a new guitar duo work by Jay Capperauld, one of the most exciting young composers.

“Arachne showcases the guitar in its most colourful form by retelling the epic tragedy of the Greek myth of Arachne through sound. Jay’s skilful use of unique timbres, exquisite melodies and groovy rhythms make this a work that I feel guitarists will want to play again and again.”

This year’s anniversary programme includes:

• Award-winning, internationally renowned guitarist Lorenzo Micheli – who has performed more than 600 concerts worldwide – will hold a masterclass on Friday 30 October followed by a headline concert on Saturday 31 October.

• Samrat Majumder and Ian Watt, an RCS alumnus, join forces on Friday 30 October where Samrat will present Lachrimae – The Lute Music of John Dowland and Johann Sebastian Bach. Ian’s programme celebrates the diversity of the guitar canon with works by Stephen Goss, Michael Tippett, Giulio Regondi and Emilio Pujol.

• There’s a showcase from the Junior Conservatoire of Music on Saturday 31 October while on Sunday 1 November, Zoe Barnett closes the festival with a programme heavily inspired by Spanish repertoire.

“The festival is one of the focus points of the year and has endured because it brings together young and old, professionals and amateur enthusiasts,” said Allan.

“It is non-elitest and open for all those who just enjoy playing and listening to guitars. Many of our alumni come just to hang out and catch up with one another, so it is both a celebration of the music and friendships.

“RCS has produced many fine players who are spread across the globe, and they often talk about Glasgow as being a hub for guitar activity.”

Samrat added: “Big Guitar Weekend is special because of the people that make it so. Guitar lovers from across the nation and world convene at RCS to celebrate and unite through a shared love for the timeless and limitless instrument that the guitar is.

“RCS could not be a better home for this festival, boasting brilliant concert halls, an impressive guitar department and an organising team that makes each year memorable and inspiring.”

For full programme information and tickets, visit the Big Guitar Weekend homepage.