SCO NEWS

APPROVAL FOR EDINBURGH’S DUNARD CENTRE

––––––We are delighted to announce that our new home for the Orchestra and Chorus – Edinburgh’s first purpose-built music and performance venue for over 100 years – will be called Dunard Centre, supported by Royal Bank of Scotland.

The venue, which is the flagship cultural project of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal was granted planning approval by the Development Management Sub Committee of City of Edinburgh Council.

Welcoming the decision, Sir Ewan Brown, Chairman of IMPACT Scotland said: “Today’s decision is tremendous news for the City and turns the ambition for a world-class centre for music and performance, into a reality.

“I am particularly pleased to announce today that the official name of the venue will be Dunard Centre supported by Royal Bank of Scotland. This is in recognition of the huge contribution Carol Grigor has made to this project through the charitable trust Dunard Fund. “We now have the opportunity to create an exciting new venue for everyone, in a building to be proud of.”

Speaking during the committee hearing, architect Sir David Chipperfield said: “This will be a public building that relates to Edinburgh on a civic scale by both fitting in and standing out in order to perform an important social and cultural role in a city with strong, established cultural traditions.”

–––––– To learn more of the project and the opportunity to support the fundraising campaign to realise it, please visit impactscotland.org.uk

WELCOME TO THE ORCHESTRA, KANA AND SIÚN!

––––––We are very happy to welcome Kana Kawashima and Siún Milne to the First Violins!

Japanese-born Kana Kawashima was appointed First Violin in March 2019. After studying as a child at the Yehudi Menhuin School, Kana gained both a Bachelors and Masters Degree at the Vienna Conservatory under Pavel Vernikov. In 2017, she gained her Artist Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music, before working with Southbank Sinfonia and freelancing with orchestras including London Mozart Players, London Philharmonic and English Chamber Orchestra.

Irish-born Siún Milne was also appointed First Violin in March 2019. She gained her BMus at the Royal Academy of Music as a scholarship student on both baroque and modern violin. Siún is currently a lecturer at CIT Cork School of Music and regularly performs with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. She is a keen chamber musician, having performed with ensembles including the Royal Academy of Music Baroque Soloists at Wigmore Hall, European Union Chamber Orchestra, and Camerata Ireland.

Kana Kawashima

Siún Milne

STAFF CHANGES

––––––Our Marketing and Communications Director, Caroline Dooley, is leaving the Orchestra after six and a half years. She won’t be far away though, taking up a similar role at another of our National Companies, Scottish Opera. She will be succeeded by Gareth Beedie who is currently Head of Communications at National Theatre of Wales. Gareth has also held roles at the National Theatre of Scotland, Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet. We wish Caroline all the very best and look forward to welcoming Gareth at the end of June!