A member of the Orchestra since October 2025, Hatty Haynes has an impressive pedigree that takes in the London Mozart Players (of which she was previously a member) and historical instrument ensembles such as the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. She is also an passionate chamber musician, giving recitals both as a soloist and in string quartet repertoire.

What do you remember of your first time playing with the SCO?

One of the first concerts I did with the SCO was at the Edinburgh International Festival back in 2019. We played Bernstein’s West Side Story with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, who did a cameo as Officer Krupke (complete with hat and whistle!).

What would your advice be to anyone wishing to take up your instrument?

Go for it! I would say that patience is key, especially at the beginning! Listen to lots of different music, and find pieces/players/recordings that you love and feel inspired by.

Which concerts are your personal highlights this Season, and why?

I’m really looking forward to the Mozart last symphonies programme in January. I have listened to these three symphonies on repeat for years, and can’t wait to play them all in one programme, especially with Maxim and the SCO.

I’m also really excited for the Beethoven Seven/Dreamers' Circus project with Pekka Kuusisto in March, which sounds really interesting!

If you weren’t a musician, where do you think your career might have led you?

It’s quite hard to imagine not being a musician! I think it would have to be something creative, or to do with books.

Do you have a happy place?

I love spending time at home, but I’m also happiest when outdoors walking or swimming.