Aberdeen Music Hall is set to reopen its doors in December after a multi-million pound transformation.

The £9m project, which has seen the arts venue close to the public for two years, will reopen on December 8 with a community celebration called Stepping In.

The 200-year-old has undergone extensive excavations to create a new lower ground floor, freeing up space for a new performance studio, new creative learning studio, new cafe bar, restaurant and relocated box office.

The entrance to the Music Hall has been also been transformed with a floor-to-ceiling video wall exhibiting digital art.

To celebrate the venue's grand reopening, Travis frontman Fran Healy will lead the Music Hall community choir in a performance of hit single Sing on December 8.

The venue will be opened to the public from 9.30am with free entry all day, with a programme of performances and activities from local communities who have been participating in the award-winning Stepping Out programme during the Music Hall's closure.

Jane Spiers, chief executive of Aberdeen Performing Arts, said: "We're so excited at the prospect of stepping back into the hall and welcoming everyone through the doors.

"It's been a labour of love and a complete privilege to play a part in the history of such a national treasure.

"Stepping In is a celebration of all that makes the Music Hall great - and most of all it's a celebration of people and communities in the North-east.

The works have included improve access, including new lifts and ramps to allow people with restricted mobility access to all levels  for the first time.

The Music Hall auditorium has been restored with new flooring, staging, seating, and decoration with essential repair and maintenance works on heating systems, roofing, windows and ventilation also taking place.

Councillor Jenny Laing, Aberdeen Council co-leader, said: "The revamped Music Hall will join the redeveloped Art Gallery and the new £330m TECA complex in playing an integral part supporting the delivery of the city's ambitious Aberdeen 365 event programme, a year-round programme of world-class events, festivals and performances which make the city a vibrant and exciting place to visit and experience."

The formal opening will take place the following weekend with two concerts taking place in the newly transformed venue.

On Saturday, December 15, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra will be joined by classical pianist Alice Sara Ott and internationally renowned conductor Alpesh Chauhan.

The following day, Scottish band Texas will take to the stage performing some of their best-loved hits.