An Edinburgh pianist, organist and music educator is raising funds to honour a 'forgotten' Scottish-born American composer.

Veronika Strelbitskaia is raising funds to launch the Helen Hopekirk Festival, which will run across Edinburgh and Glasgow from May 18 to 24, 2026.

An Edinburgh pianist, organist and music educator is celebrating a forgotten Scottish composer in a new festival.

The Helen Hopekirk Festival will take place across Edinburgh and Glasgow in May 2026, marking the 170th anniversary of the birth of Portobello-born composer and pianist Helen Hopekirk.

A new festival is hoping to bring back the name of Helen Hopekirk. Born in Peebles in 1856, she was one of the most accomplished pianists and composers of her generation, and her accomplishments including playing her Piano Concerto (now lost) with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1900.

Trail­blaz­ing Scot­tish pian­ist Helen Hopekirk.

As the daugh­ter of music shop own­ers, Helen Hopekirk was play­ing the piano from an early age.

“As a woman I prefer Scotland, as a musician Germany. But Vienna is the ideal place to live in.”

Scotland’s International Helen Hopekirk Competition & Festival has announced its 2026 dates. The festival will take place from May18–24 at venues in Glasgow & Edinburgh; the live Piano and Organ Competition in Edinburgh on May 22–23; and the Online Competition in Piano, Organ, and Composition on September 10. 

Introducing some of the festivals making their mark in 2026