Lost James Horner composition recorded by Scotland’s National Orchestra premieres at the International Ayr Show Posted Thu 6 August 2026
More than ten years after his death, a newly discovered piece of music by world-renowned film composer James Horner (Titanic, Avatar, Braveheart) has been recorded by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO). Marking its world premiere, Skyward Spirit will provide the soundtrack for aerobatic flight team Airborne Pyrotechnics’ performance at The International Ayr Show – Festival of Flight this September.
An avid aviator tragically killed in a plane crash in 2015, Horner began writing the piece as a commission for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. It had been assumed the piece never came to fruition until Horner’s friend and flying teammate, Ed Shipley, came across a photo of Horner holding the manuscript ten years later.
Having worked with Horner for many years on projects such as Avatar, Simon Rhodes, Horner’s long-standing engineer and friend, was the perfect person to continue Horner’s legacy. With the blessing of Horner’s widow, Rhodes finished and arranged the piece. Late in 2025, the RSNO recorded the newly finished Skyward Spirit in its state-of-the-art studio, Scotland’s Studio, in the heart of Glasgow under the baton of acclaimed conductor Robert Ziegler. Now, more than a decade after his untimely death, Horner’s Skyward Spirit will receive its world premiere at The International Ayr Show on Friday 4 September, providing the soundtrack for Airborne Pyrotechnics’ aerobatic display above the Firth of Clyde.
Orchestrator and arranger of Skyward Spirit Simon Rhodes said: ‘There’s been nothing more fulfilling than adopting these rediscovered ideas, channelling James, and crafting them into an epic orchestral flying work in his honour. I can’t think of a more befitting tribute to this much-missed Skyward Spirit.’
Alistair Mackie, RSNO Chief Executive said: ‘At the RSNO, we are so proud of the position we now have supporting Hollywood recording its scores in Scotland’s Studio. We’ve a long history with James Horner’s work, having re-recorded the music from his most iconic films such as Titanic, Braveheart and Aliens in the 1990s on the Varèse Sarabande label. More recently, we’ve recorded the scores for some major productions, and that Hollywood choosing to come here to Scotland to record is testament to our growing reputation. Horner was true Hollywood royalty, and so it is particularly special that the RSNO can play this small part in his legacy. Having recorded this piece is a tremendous honour for the organisation and we are all looking forward to hearing and seeing the world premiere at The International Ayr Show in September.’
The International Ayr Show, which attracts an audience of more than 260,000 people, will also see the RSNO Brass Quintet performing on the Low Green across both days of the festival, while members of the RSNO’s Learning and Engagement team will give attendees the chance to try orchestral instruments in the Festival Village. Airborne Pyrotechnics will perform to Skyward Spirit a second time on Saturday 5 September.