Classical Pianist

Ailsa Aitkenhead

Classical Pianist

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Ailsa Aitkenhead

Ailsa Aitkenhead is a professional pianist, accompanist and piano teacher. She studied piano accompaniment at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She graduated with distinction, achieved the Alex Menzies award for an outstanding accompanist and was highly commended in the governor’s recital prize.
Since then she has worked as a staff accompanist at Edinburgh University and is now the staff accompanist for St Andrews University.
She is a regular performer with Fever Candlelight Concert Series; Principal Pianist at St Marks Unitarian church, Official Accompanist for the Edinburgh Competition Festival, and the Head Accompanist for Three Bridges Opera company. She has frequent bookings with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra as part of their orchestral concerts and recordings.
Ailsa is a frequent performer across Scotland.
She has performed concerts at Usher Hall, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, St Giles Cathedral, St Mary’s Cathedral; Oran Mor, Greyfriars Kirk, St Stephens Church, Balerno Music Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival and many more. She has a wide range of duos and collaborations in performance.
Music Notes

Upcoming Events

Music from the movies

Music from the movies

Event Date: August 5, 2025

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Chopin and Schubert - Solo Piano Recital

Chopin and Schubert - Solo Piano Recital

Event Date: August 18, 2025

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Ailsa Aitkenhead

is a classical pianist based in Edinburgh. She is a masters graduate with distinction from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, a professional piano accompanist, repetiteur and soloist. She is a frequent performer across Scotland. Ailsa is available for performance, accompaniment and piano teaching.

“Expressive dynamics, and powerful emotional performances… piano accompaniment impeccably performed by Edinburgh’s Ailsa Aitkenhead”

Edinburgh Fringe Review

“Summed up succinctly by a gentleman behind me: ‘wow!’”

Three weeks Edinburgh

“Ailsa Aitkenhead provided confident and (where necessary) jaunty and good humoured accompaniment throughout. An absorbing hour of music making”

Edinburgh Music Review

Stunning performance of Chopin’s Ballade in G minor by very talented Edinburgh-based pianist Ailsa Aitkenhead. Filmed and recorded by Steve Richer in St Michael’s and All Saint’s Church, Edinburgh.