Kenneth Henderson (pictured above in a photo by Christopher Bowen) was appointed SCO Principal Horn in June 2025. An Edinburgh native, he has actually spent much of his career in Switzerland, where he has been Principal Horn with the Musikkollegium Winterthur since 1990. As you'll read below, splitting his time between both countries gives him ample opportunity to indulge his love of the great outdoors!

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

To be honest my first time playing with the SCO was almost 20 years ago, so I can’t really remember. The feeling I have though is, I have been associated with the Orchestra for a long time: I remember when it was founded. I received coaching in the RSAMD [now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland] Junior Department from David Nicholson and Barry Collarbone [both founder members of the SCO], so it’s a special feeling being now Principal Horn.

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

Have a lot of patience and keep it simple. Practice hard.

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

Probably the Richard Strauss Suite in B-flat and the Hartmann Concerto funebre with the SCO Wind soloists and Alina Ibragimova. First of all, Strauss is well-written for the horn and challenging to play, especially with a great horn group as we had and Alina an amazing violinist. The Hartmann is an incredible piece. Perhaps also L’Enfance du Christ by Berlioz, my sister’s favourite piece, but unfortunately I am unable to play as I'll be playing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante [for wind instruments, K297b] in Switzerland.

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

Something in nature, working with animals. I was recommended forestry by my school, but the nearest I got to it was playing the French horn (Waldhorn in German, which translates ... as forest horn!).

Do you have a happy place?

With family, in nature, running, walking my dog (a border collie named Skye) and recently in my camper, travelling round Scotland drinking coffee!