News & Blog

• Gregor Stewart, financial services specialist, appointed as new Chair.
• Gail Blain, Chartered Accountant, joins as Honorary Treasurer.
• Kayla-Megan Burns brings their experience in technology, social impact and disability access to the Board.
• Ruth Binks joins with experience in education, community outreach and the wider Scottish fundraising environment.
• David McClenaghan joins as Player Director.
• Dame Susan Bruce DBE departs after nine dedicated years of service as Chair of the Board.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) announces the appointment of Gregor Stewart (Chair of the Board), Gail Blain (Honorary Treasurer), Kayla-Megan Burns and Ruth Binks to its Board of Directors. The Board also welcomes David McClenaghan as a Player Director to share his experience as an established professional musician.

Gregor Stewart brings extensive experience in high profile financial services and a personal interest in live music to his role. Alongside the RSNO, Stewart is the Chair of FNZ and a Non-Executive Director at Direct Line. He joins the RSNO for the start of the 2024:25 Season, succeeding Dame Susan Bruce DBE who fulfilled a nine-year term in position, during which the RSNO successfully navigated the Covid-19 pandemic. Bruce oversaw the appointment of Thomas Søndergård as Music Director and Alistair Mackie as Chief Executive; many successful international tours by the Orchestra to Europe, China and the USA; a thirty-three percent rise in ticket income due to increased audience numbers and five best-selling Seasons; the Orchestra’s move to the specially built RSNO Centre; increased reach to communities throughout Scotland and the development of and recent additional improvement to Scotland’s Studio.

Stewart, Blain, Burns, Binks and McClenaghan join the Board of Directors at an exciting time in the Orchestra’s development, with the recent appointment of Patrick Hahn as Principal Guest Conductor and the consolidation of Scotland’s Studio as a key asset to the film and games music industry.

Alistair Mackie, RSNO Chief Executive said: “We are pleased to welcome Gregor, Gail, Kayla and Ruth to the Board. The range of perspectives they bring to our wide sphere of activity benefits us immensely, and the diversity of their skills brings me confidence in the standard of guidance they will bring to Scotland’s National Orchestra.

“We’re very grateful for the extended services of Dame Sue Bruce, John Heasley, Neil McLennan, Costa Pilavachi and Dávur Juul Magnussen who all retire from the Board this year. Over the duration of their time in position as Board members, their hard work has seen the RSNO continue to strive for excellence, despite challenging times, and their contributions have been highly valued. I’d like to extend particular thanks to Sue, our departing Chair, for her unwavering dedication to the RSNO over the past nine years.

Gregor Stewart commented: “I am delighted to join the Board of the RSNO as Chair in this exciting period of development for the Orchestra, working together with Chief Executive Alistair Mackie and the team at the RSNO.

“I would like to thank Dame Sue Bruce, who has seen the organisation through several fundamentally challenging periods of change and growth during her tenure. The RSNO has ambitious plans for the future and I look forward to working closely with the Board to ensure the Orchestra continues to deliver for the people of Scotland.”

Dame Sue Bruce said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Chair of the RSNO. We have overcome some serious challenges but moreover we have built upon the established excellence of the orchestra and have developed our partnerships and our offering to the people and the economy of Scotland. It has been a privilege to hold this role. I wish Gregor Stewart every success as he takes up this exciting role. Our achievements over the past nine years could not have been possible without the support of the RSNO’s staff, musicians, Board, supporters and audiences, to whom I extend my sincere gratitude. I’m looking forward to continuing to attend RSNO performances as a regular audience member in the years to come.”

Thomas Søndergård, RSNO Music Director, added: “It has been a true pleasure to work with Dame Sue Bruce in her time as Chair of the RSNO. I have appreciated her insight and dedication to the Orchestra and the support she has given to me personally in my time as Principal Guest Conductor and Music Director. I wish her well for the future. I look forward to working with Gregor in the future striving to engage the RSNO with more people across Scotland and beyond.”