RED NOTE ENSEMBLE - Key Persons

Alison is Principal Teacher of the Music Department at Levenmouth Academy.

Job Titles:

• Artistic Director
• CEO
• Chief Executive

Composer John Harris is artistic director and chief executive of the Red Note Ensemble. John was appointed Festival Director of New Music Dublin in 2017; he was previously artistic director of the Paragon Ensemble and general manager of the Hebrides Ensemble. His work includes operas, chamber music, theater music and music for film, including work for Scottish Opera, the Sound Festival Aberdeen, Tapestry Opera Toronto, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Channel 4.

Daniel has extensive experience in the field of contemporary music as a flautist, composer, and editor. He currently works for the collecting society PRS for Music, where he represents the interests of classical composers and publishers. Originally from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, Daniel is passionate about ensuring that all musicians are afforded opportunities regardless of their socioeconomic background. Daniel loves Red Note's unflinching commitment to new music, which stretches from grassroots work in schools to commissioning major new work from Scottish composers.

Job Titles:

• the National Lottery Community Fund As Head of Business Support

David Sinclair is an experienced fundraising and governance professional. David recently joined The National Lottery Community Fund as Head of Business Support in Scotland. Immediately prior to that he spent 10 years with the music-based social change charity Sistema Scotland, latterly leading on fundraising, evaluation and governance. David is a keen but very amateur musician and a believer in the power of music to change lives. He is particularly interested in the work of Red Note Ensemble supporting performers and composers in the initial stages of their careers, and in Red Note's access, engagement and participation programme.

Job Titles:

• Chairman of the Board

Fiona started her career as a producer/director in corporate communications working for clients that included Chase, BP, Vickers and Swiss Re. She then moved into a marketing role as Head of Marketing for a group of five companies before relocating to Scotland. Here she has worked in the public and private sector including as Depute Director Corporate Communications at the University of Glasgow, Head of Marketing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and currently Marketing Director at Strathallan School in Perthshire. In her spare time she indulges her love of video production by making short films, is a lover of music and theatre and gets out cycling and hill walking whenever she can.

Fiona Winning studied at the Juilliard School in New York, going on to become Princip al Violist of the Royal Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra s. For many years she has been a regular guest principal of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (including four seasons at Glyndebourne Opera), Aurora Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestr a. Fiona's orchestral activities have taken her to many of the world's most prestigious halls and as a principal she has worked closely with eminent conductors such as Charles Dutoit, Vladimir Jurowksi, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Gianandrea Noseda & Vasily Petrenko. A passionate performer of chamber music, she has appeared at halls and festivals all over the world, such as Festival da Camera, Lima, the Wigmore Hall, Bargemusic and Lincoln Centre, NYC, Edinburgh International Festival and the Banff Centre. She has been inspired by chamber music partners including Pinchas Zuckerman, Lawrence Power, Maxim Emelyanachev, Assaff Weisman, the Fidelio Trio and Ensemble 360, and regularly performs with her husband, clarinettist Timothy Orpen, and pianist John Reid. She recently curated a performance with poet Jacob Sam-La Rose for the Deal Festival. A renowned exponent of contemporary music, she is a regular guest principal with the London Sinfonietta, with whom she has performed at the BBC Proms, South Bank Centre, Huddersfield Festival and in Europe and the Far East. Other highlights include George Benjamin's Into the Little Hill at the Wigmore Hall, one of Pierre Boulez's last conducting engagements (Stravinsky Dumbarton Oaks) and premiering works by Saxophonist Marius Neset at the BBC Proms. She has a close association with composer Luke Styles whose work Three Phase Stanzas she commissioned and performed nationwide. Fiona was for seven years a member of the Scottish Ensemble with whom she broadcast regularly on BBC radio 3, appearing at the Edinburgh International Festival, BBC proms, Wigmore Hall, Huddersfield, Lichfield and City of London Festivals. As a session musician she records at Abbey Road and Air studios in London, and can be heard on numerous soundtracks for film and TV. Fiona plays on a viola by Antonio Gragnani, generously supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Loan Fund for Musical Instruments. She lives near Loch Lomond with her husband and two sons and can often be found climbing in her local hills.

Job Titles:

• Administration and Marketing Coordinator

Originally from France, Flore is the Administration and Marketing Coordinator at Red Note.

Job Titles:

• Vice - Chair of the Board
• Head of Music at the Scottish Arts Council / Creative Scotland
• UK Musicians' Union As Scottish / Northern Ireland Organiser

Ian has spent his entire working life in music. The first 25 years of his professional life were spent as a horn player, with the RSNO/Royal Scottish National Orchestra and with the London Symphony Orchestra. He was also the founding director of Scottish Brass. In 1994 Ian joined the UK Musicians' Union as Scottish/Northern Ireland Organiser and founded the UK Folk & Roots department. Ian was a member of the Board of Governors at the RSAMD and an Executive Board member of the Musicians' Benevolent Fund. Ian was appointed as Head of Music at the Scottish Arts Council/Creative Scotland in 2005, where he was privileged to co-found the Youth Music Initiative, which has now seen more than £150M in additional government investment targeted at instrumental and singing teaching. Ian has earned a wide international reputation through successfully promoting the music and musicians of Scotland, none more so as one of the founders of Showcase Scotland hosted by Celtic Connections in Glasgow-now grossing over £3M in artist bookings over four days. In 2013, Ian was elected to the executive board of the European Music Council, based in Bonn, Germany and in 2015 was elected President/Chair of the EMC Board. Ian also serves on the International Music Council Executive Board, based at Unesco in Paris.In January 2016 Ian was elected to the board of the International Society for the Performing Arts based in New York and in January 2017 was appointed Treasurer and member of the ISPA Executive Board. In 2017, Ian joined the board of multi-media arts organisation; Cryptic who also programme and direct Sonica.

Isla started her career as a marketing intern for the London Symphony Orchestra, where she went on to hold various marketing roles, before moving to the Philharmonia Orchestra and then to Southbank Centre in London. She then relocated northwards and to her current role as Head of Marketing at Liverpool Philharmonic where she works on a programme of over 400 events a year. A self-titled ‘audience advocate', Isla is excited to be joining the Red Note board in 2024 because of a shared passion for bringing new music to new audiences. In her spare time she enjoys exploring new cities, going to concerts and the theatre, and is half-committed to learning to play squash.

Job Titles:

• Leader

Jacqueline Shave received her formal training at the Royal Academy of Music, but drew her particular performance inspiration and love of chamber music from her time at the Britten-Pears School in Snape. On leaving the Academy she became Leader of English Touring Opera, but soon made the decision to dedicate herself to chamber music, leading the Schubert Ensemble and then co-founding and leading the Brindisi Quartet for fifteen years. She has appeared as guest leader with many groups including the Nash Ensemble, London Sinfonietta, Composers' Ensemble, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She was appointed leader of Britten Sinfonia in 2005. In 2013 she additionally became leader of the Red Note Ensemble, a contemporary music group in Glasgow. In 2011 she took a year away to explore other musical pathways, which resulted in Postcards from Home, a world music/jazz CD in collaboration with Kuljit Bhamra (tabla) and John Parricelli (guitar). She also presented a complete Beethoven string quartet cycle on the Hebridean island of Harris, and gave a free improvisation concert in a cave on Hestur, in the North Atlantic Faroe Islands. Jacqueline plays on a Nicola Amati violin, from 1672.

Job Titles:

• Commercial Solicitor

Lindsey is a commercial solicitor who has worked for the last 25 years in private practice, in-house in the higher education sector and most recently in industry. She has lived in the United States, Germany and The Netherlands but has always been drawn back to Glasgow! Lindsey joined the Board in 2021. She is passionate about the importance of engaging schoolchildren in music from an early age, with a particular interest in woodwind instruments. In her free time, she enjoys trail running, writing poetry, cooking and wine.

Job Titles:

• Director of Working With Communities

Louise Martin is Director of Working with Communities responsible for the outreach and creative learning programme, finding underserved audiences and new ways of bringing Red Note's music to them and engaging with them. Louise worked as a high school music teacher before running away with the circus, where she branched out from classical cello and piano into rock, punk, ska, country, theremin, musical saw and stilt-walking.

Lynn Sweeney has lived in Glasgow all her life and from an early age been involved with music. She sang in the Glasgow Schools Choir and played in the Glasgow Schools Band. This allowed her to experince the joy of making music and gave her the opportunity to meet other young people outside of Easterhouse, where she grew up. She is a volunteer childline counsellor and a board member of Royston Youth Action. She was previously a member of the board "Friends of Instrumental Music East Dunbartonshire" which enable many young people to attend music groups where cost was a barrier. Supporting young people has always been imporant to Lynn. Lynn was introduced to Red Note at a Noisy Night event in Edinburgh and she loved how they broke down barriers to allow people to experince contemporay music. Not only do Red Note give a platform to new composers but they perform in venues that are accessible to all ages and backgrounds. As a new member of the board she is looking forward to supporting Red Note to continue to deliver contemporary music as well as looking at new ways to reach those who otherwise may be excluded or feel unable to participate. This maybe due to age, multi disabilities,race/enthnicity or living in areas of deprivation.

Job Titles:

• Trustee in Training )

Mareike is currently completing a Master in Arts, Festival and Cultural Management at Queen Margaret University. Originally from Germany, she has been involved in the classical music scene in her younger years. She was drawn to Red Note as she feels passionate about access to new music, especially fostering curiosity. Mareike joined as a trustee in training as she wanted to expand her knowledge and experience of this important role.

Mark O'Keeffe has held the post of principal trumpet with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra since December 1996. In addition to his career with the BBCSSO, he plays chamber music with Red Note Ensemble. Mark has been guest Principal Trumpet with the World Orchestra for Peace, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Opera House Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Halle Orchestra and Mahler Chamber Orchestra. He was awarded a Creative Scotland bursary in 2004 for a collaborative project with Theatre Cryptic. He teaches at the RCS Glasgow, the RNCM Manchester and was awarded a distinguished alumnus from the CIT Cork School of Music in 2018.

Job Titles:

• Community Coordinator

Robert studied with some of the finest cellists in the world and has held principal positions in the Philharmonia, Scottish Opera and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He was a founding member of the Brindisi Quartet, the Chamber Group of Scotland, the Da Vinci Trio and was Artistic Co-Director of Red Note Ensemble. Robert has recorded extensively including Complete Cello Works of Sally Beamish, Cello Works of Giles Swayne, ‘Tree o' licht' Solo Cello Works by William Sweeney, Rachmaninov/Shostakovich: Sonatas For Cello And Piano with Graeme McNaught on piano, The Cellist of Sarajevo by David Wilde. His new album Songs and Lullabies will be released in September and features 19 new solo cello works and all proceeds will go to UNICEF. Robert was also a Senior Professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He plays on a fine cello, a copy of a 1695 Rugeri made in 2014 by Melvyn Goldsmith and a fine bow by the Scottish maker Howard Green.

Job Titles:

• Coach for NYOS

Ruth is a flute player, and educator. She divides her time mainly between performing with leading contemporary music group Red Note Ensemble, and working as lecturer in flute at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She also performs solo recitals, and enjoys playing chamber music in any kind of small ensemble. She works regularly with pianist Scott Mitchell, and in a trio with harpist Sharron Griffiths and violist Scott Dickinson. She has appeared regularly at festivals all over the UK and Europe, and has recorded for Delphian, Mode, Metier and 7hings. Ruth was for many years a player and co-artistic director of The Scottish Flute Trio. The trio commissioned many new works from composers such as Thea Musgrave, Edward McGuire, Sally Beamish, Gordon McPherson, Joji Hirota, Robert Dick and David Fennessy. She has worked with a wide range of ensembles including the Edinburgh Quartet, Hebrides Ensemble, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, and as a soloist with London Concertante. She has been on stage with theatre companies such as Dundee Rep and Theatre Cryptic and appeared at Counterflows Festival with experimental harpist Zeena Parkins. She appears regularly on Radio 3 and Radio Scotland, and has performed live as a featured solo artist for Classic FM. Teaching is a big part of Ruth's life, and she has seen many successful students go into the profession. Alongside her work at RCS, Ruth enjoys teaching master classes and workshops around the UK and in Europe. She also teaches students at Glasgow University and is the founder of the Scottish International Flute Summer School which she directed for 20 years. She is in demand as a private teacher, and has taught many successful students at every stage of their musical training. Ruth is a regular coach for NYOS courses, delivers CPD for instrumental teachers, and for many years was on the staff for Douglas Academy Music School. As well as teaching flute players, and coaching chamber groups and ensembles, Ruth also enjoys working with composers to help them to develop their writing. She has taken part in many composers' workshops, working at all levels from first time composers at school, through to young professional composers at the start of their careers. Recent composers' workshops have been with RNCM, RCS, Glasgow University and Sound Scotland. Ruth's training was with David Nicholson at RSAMD, and then as a Wingate Scholar with Peter Lloyd at the Royal Northern College of Music. She also studied privately with Colin Lilley and Wissam Boustany. Prizes and awards include: Soroptomist International Society Bursary for young musicians, Prize winner in RSAMD chamber music and woodwind competitions, Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship, Bromsgrove Festival Young Musicians Platform, AT&T Istel Awards, Tunnell Trust, Manchester Mid Day Music Society recital prize, Hattori Foundation award winner and Wingate Scholarship for postgraduate study at RNCM. Composition is a recent addition to Ruth's work, and her music is published by Tetractys.

Job Titles:

• Admin
• General Manager

Sarah first joined the team as our admin intern and Admin and Communications Coordinator, and has now taken up her role as General Manager. She has completed her studies at Queen Margaret University on the MA Arts, Festival and Cultural Management course. Sarah provides day-to-day support in the office, helping organise upcoming projects, meetings and general office management.

Stef recently joined the team of the Alamire Foundation (International Centre for the Study of Music in the Low Countries), coming from the Flanders Arts Institute where he was responsible for classical music on national and international level. First an amateur singer & musician, he started his career in music and graduated as a musicologist. After a few years working as a music teacher and music programmer at several cultural institutions, he joined PolyGram (later Universal Music Group). As marketing manager classic & jazz he was privileged to work for worldclass labels such as Philips, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, ECM, Verve & Impulse and their related artists. In his capacity of Managing Director of the Flanders Music Centre (2000-2015) he participated in many international music conferences & events like Midem, Eurosonic, Waves Vienna, Rheeperbahn, Eurosonic, Visa for Music, Womex, ISCM-World New Music Days,Classical Next etc, as a speaker, panellist or moderator. He has been active on the European and international music scene a.o. through key positions in music networks such as the International Association of Music Information Centres (Iamic), the European Music Office (EMO) and the International Music Council. As Chairman of the European Music Council he was actively involved in the promotion and implementation of the European Agenda for Music.

Timothy Lines enjoys a varied career as a clarinettist. He is currently principal clarinet of the London Mozart Players and performs regularly as guest principal with many orchestras and ensembles such as BBC NOW, London Sinfonietta, Red Note Ensemble and the newly formed Knussen Chamber Ensemble. Timothy conducts termly concerts with the New Perspectives Ensemble at the Royal College of Music, specialising in performing music by living composers. He has also conducted the RCM Chamber, Philharmonic and Symphony orchestras. He is a clarinet coach for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and took the role of assistant conductor with them during their Spring 2019 course. He has been a clarinet professor at the Royal College of Music since 1998 and he was appointed a Fellow there in 2016. From 1999 to 2003, Timothy was principal clarinet of the London Symphony Orchestra, becoming chairman of the orchestra during his last year there. From from 2004 to 2005 he was section leader clarinet of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He was principal clarinet of the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Revolutionaire et Romantique from 2003 until 2023, performing on period instruments.

Tom Hunter is a percussionist and timpanist based in Scotland, performing with top orchestras and playing new music as soloist and chamber musician. Tom is percussionist for Red Note Ensemble specialising in contemporary music. Giving solo and chamber music performances in concerts, collaborations, international tours and recordings. In his orchestral career Tom performs regularly with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra on timpani and percussion. He has also worked with many of the UK's leading orchestras including Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Tom was appointed Assistant Principal Timpanist 2005-2009 with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Norway and was a founder member of the Bergen Pipe Band, training up their first drum corps. Tom graduated from RSAMD in 2002, where he won the Governors' Recital Prize for Percussion and performed in the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2000 percussion final. Tom is a percussion tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland as well as at St Mary's Music School.