Blog

After the huge success of our Masterworks performance week and visits to schools, there's no rest for the wicked. Our composition project 'Music Factory' is the next stage for Advanced Higher Music pupils from the 6 participating Local Authorities. Stephen Deazley is working with Fife, Edinburgh, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire and Alasdair Nicolson is leading workshops in Moray and Aberdeenshire. These composers have both begun this 4 month composition project with 16 pupils coming together in each Local Authority, working closely with a trio of SCO players at each session.

As a professional violinist, the question I am asked most often by audience members is, “Do you watch the conductor?  What do they actually do?”  Like all good questions, there is no straight answer – and that’s not just because I am concerned my career might come to an abrupt end if I say the wrong thing.

That's our Masterworks performance week wrapped up, and what a week it was. James MacMillan's Tryst certainly got a good outing with the orchestra, just check out the reviews! We kicked off on Monday in Edinburgh with a public performance at the Queen's Hall. Paul Rissmann was on form with his fabulously slick presentation, demonstrating extracts from the work with the orchestra led by James Lowe.

We'll we've just wrapped up 2 hectic weeks of Masterworks Player visits to schools all over Scotland. We've been to 38 schools, have seen 890 pupils and delivered 47 sessions - whew! SCO players Peter Franks, Adrian Bornet, Lorna McLaren, Alison Green, Alison Mitchell, Harry Johnstone and Aisling O'Dea have travelled from Doon Academy in Dalmellington right up to Fraserburgh Academy visiting the schools in pairs.