Introducing Immerse, SCO’s acclaimed orchestral programme for young people.

Immerse is a unique orchestral experience for upper secondary music and art pupils that enables students to experience the excitement of a live orchestra in concert and explore the relationship between music and art.

The programme at Borders Music Festival 2026, features The Origin of Colour by SCO Associate Composer Jay Capperauld, who will also introduce the programme and share how he created this exciting work. He will be joined by visual artist Kirsty Matheson, who will present her own paintings inspired by The Origin of Colour and other pieces featured in the programme. 

Immerse is free for schools, and we also have a modest travel bursary to support schools with the cost of transport. 

Associate Composer – Jay Capperauld

Scottish composer Jay Capperauld graduated Masters in Composition with Distinction from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2014 under the tutelage of Dr Gordon McPherson. Jay has since composed for various artists and organisations including; BBC Proms, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

A highlight of Jay’s career was being commissioned by the BBC to compose a new work for the BBC Proms 2020 in which his piece ‘Circadian Refrains (172 Days Until Dawn)’ was premiered by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Alpesh Chauhan.

​Jay was also commissioned by His Majesty King Charles III to compose a new work for the Honours of Scotland celebrations which took place at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh. The new piece ‘Schiehallion!’ for String Ensemble was written for The Honours of Scotland Ensemble, comprising of three traditional Scottish tunes that were specially selected by King Charles III to reflect His Majesty’s personal connection with Scotland.

Jay was appointed as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s Associate Composer in 2022, a role that sees Jay embedded in all aspects of the SCO’s activities over the next five years (2022-27) where he will compose new works for the Orchestra as well as work closely with the SCO’s Creative Learning team.

Jay continues his partnership with the SCO’s Creative Learning department in his role as lead practitioner in the Seen & Heard project as part of the orchestra’s residency in Craigmillar as well as returning to the stage as co-presenter of Immerse alongside artist & musician Kirsty Matheson in the continuation of their series of concerts for senior high-school music pupils which explores art, music, composition and the creativity through Jay’s composition “The Origin of Colour” which will be performed by the orchestra in an immersive learning experience with the SCO.

Artist and musician – Kirsty Matheson

Kirsty Matheson is a Glasgow based artist and musician. In 2021 she asked the question “Can I paint music?”. What followed was 100 paintings of 100 pieces of music in 100 days and the resounding answer, yes. Since then, Kirsty has painted music. In 2022 she had a solo exhibition at the Glasgow Royals Concert Hall as part of Celtic Connections festival. She has been interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland, Tom Service for BBC Radio 3 and her exhibition was featured by Pauline McLean on BBC Reporting Scotland. Kirsty has many collectors of her work both in the UK and internationally. She is currently working on projects involving taking her work to orchestras and the concert platform.