Òrain Ùra
Òrain Ùra (from Gaelic, meaning "New Songs") is comprised of tenor Stuart Murray Mitchell, soprano Chiara McGlynn, and classical guitarist Kieran McCrossan. Òrain Ùra was formed to explore, perform, and promote contemporary and new music from Scotland and beyond.
Most recently, the ensemble gave a successful run of concerts throughout the summer of 2025 and in January of 2026, showcasing music by Scottish composers Edward McGuire, Gordon Ferries, and Kenneth Dempster. The programme included the premiere of McGuire's Castle Gordon for Soprano and Classical Guitar, arranged by McCrossan; Three Songs of Experience by Ferries for Tenor and Classical Guitar; Death by Water by Ferries for Soprano and Classical Guitar; and Two Hearts Beating by Dempster for Soprano and Classical Guitar.
Stuart Murray Mitchell - Tenor
Born in Fife, Stuart Murray Mitchell is a composer, tenor, and animateur active in Scotland.
Having gained a First Class degree in Music, Stuart completed his Masters degree in Composition at London's Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. He has recently completed his PhD at Edinburgh Napier University with a focus on text and music.
Stuart specialises in writing for the voice, in particular, for choir. He has been commissioned by a number of ensembles which has resulted in his work being frequently performed in recitals across the country as well as on television and radio. He has a close link with a number of Scottish musicians having worked on projects such as Turning the Elements, and writing works for Fliskmahoy!
As a tenor, Stuart is frequently in demand as both a choral and solo singer. Recent engagements have included Messiah with Dunedin Consort as well as working closely with The Kellie Consort. He is currently a lay clerk at The Robin Chapel, Edinburgh as well as frequently deputising in a number of churches and cathedrals in Edinburgh.
Stuart currently conducts the Edinburgh City Singers, Cramond Community Choir, and Stockbridge Colonies Choir. He has a vast amount of experience in leading choirs of all age groups and thoroughly enjoys working with singers of all backgrounds and abilities.
Kieran McCrossan - Classical Guitar
Kieran McCrossan is a classical guitarist originally from Kirkcaldy, Fife, now based in Edinburgh. McCrossan graduated from Edinburgh Napier University in 2025 with a Master of Arts in Music with Distinction, where he also obtained his BMus(Hons) in 2023. During his studies, he was mentored by renowned Scottish virtuoso classical guitarist and composer, Simon Thacker.
Primarily situated in contemporary classical music, McCrossan is committed to performing and promoting the work of Scottish and contemporary composers. Performance highlights include a successful solo concert series at the beginning of 2024 showcasing Scottish composers Brandon Walker, Edward McGuire, Kenneth Dempster and Stephen James Hamilton; organsing a concert dedicated to the solo and chamber music of Scottish composer Edward McGuire; participating in a concert devoted to the music of Scottish composer and classical guitarist Brandon Walker; and performing in the premieres of approximately thirty new works from Scottish composers, over half of which were written for him.
Working with living composers, McCrossan's Master of Arts project culminated in For the Composer: A Compositonal Aid for the Classical Guitar — one of the first comprehensive compositional resources specifically tailored to, readily available for, and easily accessible to composers seeking support throughout the compositional process for the classical guitar.
In the persuit of promoting and sharing contempoary Scottish classical music and its composers, McCrossan signed with Bergmann Edition in 2024, a publisher dedicated to classical guitar music. This led to the publication of a range of chamber music arrangements, notably including works by the Scottish composer Edward McGuire.
Chiara McGlynn - Soprano
Chiara McGlynn is a classical singer and current MSc Music Therapy student at Queen Margaret University.
McGlynn holds a BMus (Hons) degree from Edinburgh Napier University, where she studied classical voice with Joan Busby, and is currently persuing a MSc in Music Therapy at Queen Margret University.
During her studies, McGlynn facilitated a choir at HMP Edinburgh as part of a student placement and was member of Napier Notes, a team of students who organised and promoted concerts at the Scottish Arts Club. McGlynn also works as a support musician with Big Noise, a music education and social change programme that works intensively with children, young people and families within targeted communities.
Works Written For/Arranged/Premiered by Òrain Ùra
Three Songs of Experience by Gordon Ferries - Tenor & Guitar - Premiered January 2026
Castle Gordon by Edward McGuire - Soprano & Guitar - Arranged by McCrossan & Premiered August 2025
Death by Water by Gordon Ferries - Soprano & Guitar - Premiered March 2025