04|SCO news
SCO NEWS Roy McEwan’s Successor announced
Summer Concerts –––––– As we tour the length and breadth of Scotland in the summer months, connecting with as many communities as we can, what is it that makes these concerts so special?
–––––– Welcome to Gavin Reid who becomes our new Chief Executive from 29 August 2016. Gavin was born in Edinburgh and played trumpet in the European Community Youth Orchestra before being appointed Principal Trumpet with Manchester Camerata in 1989. In 2002 he was appointed General Manager of Manchester Camerata and was one of the first Fellows on the Clore Leadership Programme. In 2006 he became Director of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO). During his time there he has appointed a world-class team of conductors; created a special partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS); and consolidated the BBC SSO in its new home in City Halls, Glasgow. He has also been successful with commercial recordings, music festivals and touring. Speaking about his appointment, Gavin says, “I am enormously thrilled to take up this post after 10 wonderful years at the BBC SSO. I am passionate about music and the extraordinary opportunities it can offer to everyone. I am particularly
excited by the crucial and influential role that the SCO plays within Scotland and I look forward to working closely with players, staff, artists and all of the SCO’s supporters to build on the fantastic achievements of recent years, as led by Roy McEwan.” Roy will hand over to Gavin during the summer before he fully retires on Monday 29 August at the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert which now symbolises the ‘changing of the guard’. On Gavin’s appointment, Roy comments, “I have no doubt that Gavin will bring great experience, flair and devotion to the next stage of the SCO’s story. He is joining a wonderful orchestra full of talented and committed musicians and staff and I wish him well in taking them forward.” We are all really looking forward to working with Gavin to build on our creative relationships, develop our creative learning and grow our profile as a cultural ambassador for Scotland.
Making music is such an intense experience. Being away from home has its challenges in one sense, but travelling together as an Orchestra brings so many other rewards both on and off the concert platform. One such reward is the time we have together while travelling and staying overnight. Becoming a tighter ‘family’ means we understand each other better, take more risks with our playing and therefore make even better music than ever. –––––– Venturing into the unknown... No matter which venues we travel to, there are always questions to be answered to build our local knowledge. Is the stage area wide enough to fit the whole orchestra in Blair Castle? How will we set up the stage area in the basketball court in Kingussie? Will the B&B in Callander still be serving sandwiches after the concert? What’s the new Crêperie in Findhorn like? Will our truck fit through the gate at Lanark
