Young performers from around the world were welcomed to the north-east yesterday as part of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival (AIYF).
The Welcome Ceremony, which took place at the city’s Music Hall, was led by Lord Provost George Adam.
It followed the official launch of this year’s festival at Aberdeen University’s Elphinstone Hall on Friday.
Mr Adam said: “I was pleased to take part in the ceremony and welcome everybody, but in particular to welcome the young people from different countries who have travelled to Aberdeen to take part.”
The Welcome Ceremony included performances by the Grampian Youth Orchestra (GYO) and the Madison Boychoir from the US.
They performed the anthems of the countries involved in this year’s festival.
Stewart Aitken, artistic director and chief executive of the festival, said: “It went very well. The balance of the Grampian Youth Orchestra and the Madison Boychoir, who sung the anthems, was brilliant.
“The Music Hall was filled with the anthems and the sound, and I think it encouraged the participants to stand and appreciate the music, and even sing the words for the anthems the choir didn’t sing. It was a really good atmosphere.”
The festival, which is in its 42nd year, runs until Saturday.
Over nine days it will feature 100 shows in more than 50 venues across the north-east.
Young people from as far afield as Japan, the US, China and Azerbaijan are participating in performances ranging from dance and theatre to orchestras and choirs.
The festival performances continue today with more shows, including Feis Rois National Ceilidh Trail in Braemar, and the Amersfoort Jeugd Orchestra from the Netherlands, who will play in Banff.