A rich mix of music to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Hans Kosterlitz, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Aberdeen, discoverer of endorphins.

The programme features music by composers who left Germany and Austria in the 1930s, just as he and his wife did, and there are works by Hans Gal and Paul Hindemith; and there is also music by some who stayed, including Richard Strauss and Hans Pfitzner; and by composers associated with the University of Aberdeen – Gemma McGregor and Paul Mealor.

A new work by Gemma McGregor is premiered. Warm was composed in memory of Hans Kosterlitz through funding from The Hope Scott Trust. A second work by her, Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled, was first performed by the University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir in 2022.

The music is provided by Orkney Camerata and Orkney Chamber Choir. Narration is by Michael Mappin, the organist of St Magnus Cathedral.

You can hear more about the story of the discovery of endorphins at Aberdeen in the talk by Dr Alistair Corbett on the afternoon of Friday 4 September in Kirkwall Baptist Church at 3.30 pm – How Aberdeen Won the Endorphin Race.

The concert has been made possible by funding from The Hope Scott Trust and the assistance of The Hans Gal Society, to both of whom warmest thanks are expressed.

Orkney Chamber Choir was established more than thirty years ago when a small group of friends gathered to sing eclectic unaccompanied music together, calling themselves the Mayfield Singers. They continue to explore music of all genres, periods and styles, and give several performances each year, often in St Magnus Cathedral.

Soprano: Cathy Barker, Lindsay Blair, Carolyn Chalmers, Catriona Kemp, Lucy Kennedy, Maike Lehmann, Jane Partridge, Teresa Probert, Cathy Stronach
Alto: Jenny Bunning, Kate Fletcher, Clare Hammond, Marjory MacLean, Dorothy Taylor, Penny Tyndale-Hardy
Tenor: Russell Aitken, Keith Hartmann, Elaine Toms
Bass: Paul Cooper, Parker Hansen, Edward Mason, Peter Stephenson.

Its musical director Robert Hersey studied Music at Newcastle and Acting and Directing at The School of the Science of Acting and the National Theatre in London. He has worked extensively in London and the North of England as Head of Theatre in colleges, theatre in education, schools, youth theatres and community theatre projects. He is also a singer, instrumentalist and conductor working with and directing various early music ensembles touring the UK.

Orkney Camerata this year celebrates 31 years of music-making. First brought together by 2 oboe players and a harpsichord player, its inaugural concert was given in the Cathedral during the 1995 St Magnus Festival. Camerata performs a wide repertoire, from orchestral to chamber music, and from baroque to contemporary, and occasionally commissions new work.

Violin 1: Elizabeth Sullivan, Janet Yeung, Karen Griffith, Holly Tyson, Hilary Mason, Lesley MacLeod
Violin 2: Lynn Proctor, Laura Sutherland, Catriona Kemp, Alec Webster, Emma Thomas
Viola: Sandy Dennison, Amy Beeston
Cello: Lilian Kelly, Valerie Webster, Cat Browne
Double Bass: Michael Bell

Its conductor Iain Campbell was born and educated in Glasgow, and became a music teacher in classrooms from Glasgow and Colchester to Malta and Cyprus. and then Scottish Opera’s first Chorus Master in 1962. He was a choral scholar in Glasgow University Chapel Choir and has been conductor of choral and orchestral societies in Perth, Ipswich and Malta. He spent over a decade as Orchestra Manager of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

Michael Mappin was born in Edinburgh and grew up in Caithness before moving to Aberdeen to study French and Music and then to London to join the newly-formed Classic FM. He was one of the first-day voices and stayed there for 12 years. Volunteer work as a pianist took him into a local primary school, and so began his love of teaching. A student of Dr Roger Williams in Aberdeen, Michael was appointed the University’s first Organ Scholar. He subsequently became Organist at churches in Aberdeen and London, and now St Magnus Cathedral.

Dr Gemma McGregor studied at the University of Aberdeen as an Ogston scholar under the supervision of Professor Paul Mealor. She was awarded a doctorate in 2017. Her music is recorded on seven albums and published in three anthologies. Her compositions have been performed in Norway, Sweden, Faroe, Iceland, Greenland, Denmark, Canada, Ireland, and the USA. Her choral work, Love Was His Meaning, was recorded by Corvus Consort on their album, Welcome Joy, which was BBC album of the month in November 2025.