The plans are for a 1,000 seat auditorium with rehearsal studios and recording space behind Dundas House at 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh.

The building, which could cost up to £45 million, will be the new home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

A total of 69 expressions of interest were received when the open competition was announced last month.

The six teams to be taken forward are:

Sir Ewan Brown, chairman of the judging panel, said: “We have an extremely strong shortlist to choose from.

“The submissions we received show this project will transform the resource available to Edinburgh’s Festivals and provide new opportunities for music groups across Scotland by building for greater inclusivity and access.”

A decision on the winning team is expected to be taken in early April.

The complex will be located and designed to complement, rather than compete with, the city-owned and operated Usher Hall musical complex, in order to provide Edinburgh with additional possibilities for cultural expansion.

IMPACT Scotland and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra hope that public sector partnerships will support the financing of the project.

Money has already been committed by the arts-focused Dunard Fund, which will purchase an adjacent office building in St Andrew Square to house the staff of IMPACT Scotland, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and other arts bodies.